Officials from Thailand and Cambodia will meet at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in May to discuss the future of the disputed Preah Vihear temple complex. The 11th Century World Heritage site was damaged by mortar fire in recent border clashes between the two sides. UNESCO subsequently dispatched a representative to the region to mediate between the two countries. The addition of Preah Vihear to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2008 proved a catalyst to reigniting the long-running border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The mountain-top Hindu temple lies on a strip of disputed land; while it officially sits in Cambodia, it is usually accessed from Thailand.
UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, was recently reported saying that she was “encouraged” following talks with both Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.
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