(Singapore): Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn expressed hope that the UNCLOS Conciliation Commission can help Cambodia and Thailand overcome a challenging period in their relations and “turn a new page” for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Speaking at the opening of the first Cambodia-Thailand UNCLOS Conciliation Meeting in Singapore on Tuesday (Sep. 15), Prak Sokhonn reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes, stressing the Kingdom’s confidence in international institutions as a means of resolving complex disputes between states.

“Respect for international law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the institutions that uphold these principles is deeply rooted in Cambodia’s national experience,” Prak Sokhonn said, pointing to Cambodia’s previous recourse to the International Court of Justice.

He said Cambodia’s experience demonstrated that matters of the highest national importance can be addressed peacefully through international mechanisms rather than by force, while providing neighbouring countries with a stable and enduring framework for managing their differences.

“That same commitment shapes how Cambodia approaches its ongoing relations with the Kingdom of Thailand. Cambodia and Thailand’s relationship has been through a challenging period and Cambodia hopes that the Commission may be able to help the Parties turn a new page for their mutual benefit,” he said.

Prak Sokhonn also highlighted the UNCLOS conciliation between Timor-Leste and Australia over the Timor Sea as an encouraging precedent, noting that the process demonstrated how compulsory conciliation can help neighbouring states break longstanding deadlocks and ultimately reach a treaty settlement.

“Cambodia is confident that this Commission, with its distinguished composition, is well placed to assist Cambodia and Thailand in achieving a similar result – one that brings peace, stability, and shared prosperity to the region,” Prak Sokhonn concluded.
=FRESH NEWS