30th Jul, 2010
carolina.monteiro
Source: World Heritage Committee
“World Heritage achieved a great victory today. And the largest contribution to it was Brazilian.” The words are from Juca Ferreira, Brazilian Minister of Culture and President of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture), and were spoken after the result of today’s Plenary Session of the Committee’s 34th Session, during which Cambodia and Thailand were in dispute over the transboundary region where the Temple of Preah Vihear is located.
The two nations were not speaking to each other, and several conflicting claims were coming from both sides. According to Chairman Juca Ferreira, the nations will have a year to negotiate and come to an agreement. “We have managed, for the first time, to allow the two States Parties to get together without any other presence, and this was fundamental for a dialogue to finally be established”, Mr. Ferreira explained. Yesterday, the representatives from both sides shook hands for the first time. “We have dedicated intense efforts to the strengthening of UNESCO and to the fostering of an environment of mutual understanding. The fact that this reunion is taking place in Brazil is very important to us”, he highlighted.
During the announcement of the agreement, at the plenary room of the Session of the Committee, the Thai Delegation thanked Juca Ferreira and the UNESCO Ambassador in Brazil, Carlos Souza Gomes, for understanding how delicate the matter really is. They also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity both countries had to carefully analyze the working document up until the moment at which it was possible for the sides to come to a solution considered agreeable for both. The Cambodian Delegation also thanked all actors involved, and stated that the negotiations were a testimony to the incredibly relevant role played by the World Heritage Committee.
The Temple of Preah Vihear
The property is aHindu Khmer temple from the 11th century, located in the border between the two countries. In July 7, 2008, it was declared a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO during its Quebec Session. The place has had its Cambodian sovereignty disputed during the last 40 years, and, in October 2008, there was an armed conflict between the two nations over the matter.
SPEECH
“I would like to start congratulating the States Parties Cambodia and Thailand for the willingness displayed by both sides to establish dialog and reach an understanding which resulted in the Draft Decision that will be submitted to the plenary for appreciation.
I am delighted to inform that as Chairman I have received both the Delegations, and that I have always advocated for a solution that could be negotiated by both sides and for which a mutually acceptable solution could be pursued.
The text of the Draft Decision about to be presented is the result of such negotiations, which I had the honor and the privilege to conduct.
I therefore invite all members of this Committee to support the aforementioned text without debate, without appeals and without manifestations after its adoption.
Thank you very much.”
The two nations were not speaking to each other, and several conflicting claims were coming from both sides. According to Chairman Juca Ferreira, the nations will have a year to negotiate and come to an agreement. “We have managed, for the first time, to allow the two States Parties to get together without any other presence, and this was fundamental for a dialogue to finally be established”, Mr. Ferreira explained. Yesterday, the representatives from both sides shook hands for the first time. “We have dedicated intense efforts to the strengthening of UNESCO and to the fostering of an environment of mutual understanding. The fact that this reunion is taking place in Brazil is very important to us”, he highlighted.
During the announcement of the agreement, at the plenary room of the Session of the Committee, the Thai Delegation thanked Juca Ferreira and the UNESCO Ambassador in Brazil, Carlos Souza Gomes, for understanding how delicate the matter really is. They also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity both countries had to carefully analyze the working document up until the moment at which it was possible for the sides to come to a solution considered agreeable for both. The Cambodian Delegation also thanked all actors involved, and stated that the negotiations were a testimony to the incredibly relevant role played by the World Heritage Committee.
The Temple of Preah Vihear
The property is a
SPEECH
“I would like to start congratulating the States Parties Cambodia and Thailand for the willingness displayed by both sides to establish dialog and reach an understanding which resulted in the Draft Decision that will be submitted to the plenary for appreciation.
I am delighted to inform that as Chairman I have received both the Delegations, and that I have always advocated for a solution that could be negotiated by both sides and for which a mutually acceptable solution could be pursued.
The text of the Draft Decision about to be presented is the result of such negotiations, which I had the honor and the privilege to conduct.
I therefore invite all members of this Committee to support the aforementioned text without debate, without appeals and without manifestations after its adoption.
Thank you very much.”
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