(Phnom Penh): The Spokesperson of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry categorically rejected the recent statement attributed to Thailand's top diplomat, as reported by Thai media, alleging that Cambodia has used the Temple of Preah Vihear as a military station, according to a statement seen by Fresh News on Friday (Fe. 27).

Cambodia asserted that the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of outstanding universal value, is a sacred cultural and religious monument. It has never been designated, developed, or used for military purposes.

As a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, Cambodia is always firmly and fully committed to protecting and preserving the site and cultural property exclusively for peaceful, cultural, and religious functions.

The presence of Cambodian security guards to protect cultural heritage and safeguard Cambodian sovereignty over the site cannot be interpreted as constituting any military use of the Temple. The administration of the site remains under the responsibility of the competent civilian heritage authorities, and any security arrangements in place are strictly limited, protective in nature, and proportionate to the needs of safeguarding the site.

Attempts to portray the temple as a military station disregard established legal realities, undermine the international judicial authority, and endanger regional peace. Cambodia remains steadfast to international law, cultural heritage protection, peaceful dispute resolution, and collaborative engagement within ASEAN and the global community.

The spokesperson reaffirmed that the Preah Vihear temple is, and will remain, a monument of peace, culture, and shared human heritage, not a site for military purposes, and that safeguarding this World Heritage Sites is a collective responsibility of the international community.
=FRESH NEWS