On 14 February 2011, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, gave a phone-in interview from New York regarding the meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Minister of Thailand, and Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, would be attending at 10.00 hrs. (New York time) or 22.00 hrs. (Bangkok time).

At the outset, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson explained that, in principle, the UNSC meetings could take various formats, including public meetings in which other UN member countries and the media as well as the public would be allowed to attend or follow proceedings, and private meetings in which only the UNSC member countries and the countries concerned can participate, with other UN member countries able to attend only if a formal request is made to the UNSC President beforehand, while the media and the public would not be allowed to attend or follow proceedings.  In this connection he stated that the format of the UNSC meeting which the Thai Foreign Minister would attend would be a private meeting. At this stage, four statements were expected to be delivered, namely that of a senior official of the UN Secretariat on the background of the meeting, to be followed by 15-30 minutes statements of the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.  The whole meeting could take approximately two hours.

Regarding possible outcomes of UNSC meetings, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that, in principle, this could range from a UNSC resolution, a presidential statement to press remarks by the President of the UNSC. In this case, it was expected that the outcome for the UNSC session in question would be in the form of press remarks by the UNSC President – the Brazilian Permanent Representative to the UN who holds the current SC President for the month of February.  He further observed that generally, this format of the meeting would not adopt any reports or minutes, and no photographs would be taken. However, after the meeting adjourns, the representatives of the countries concerned might give stakeout interviews in front of the meeting room.  Foreign Minister Kasit would use this opportunity to talk to the media. 

In response to media enquiries regarding consultations between Foreign Minister Kasit and former Ambassador Asda Jayanama in Paris earlier, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that Ambassador Asda had met with the Assistant Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to explain various issues related to the inscription of the Temple of Phra Viharn on the World Heritage List.  The former ambassador had reaffirmed Thailand’s position that pending the determination of the boundary between Thailand and Cambodia in the said area, the consideration of the management plan in the area near the Temple of Phra Viharn should be postponed.  To proceed further with the plan might lead to more tension, as demonstrated by the recent incidents at the Thai-Cambodian border. UNESCO took note of Thailand’s concerns.

Referring to some media reports about UNESCO’s appointment of a special envoy on the issue of the Temple of Phra Viharn, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson stated that there was news about UNESCO’s proposal to appoint a high-level official as a special envoy but Thailand had not yet been officially informed.  Should Thailand be contacted about the proposal and a visit by a UNESCO delegation, it would have to consider the matter based on the objective of such a visit.  In the case that the UNESCO would like to send a delegation to inspect the Temple of Phra Viharn and surrounding areas, which means it would have to enter into the area under Thai sovereignty, then UNESCO would have to officially request Thailand’s permission.

Asked whether a meeting between the Foreign Minister and the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister had been scheduled while they were in New York, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that this had not yet been confirmed.  However, there could be a meeting among the two Foreign Ministers and the ASEAN chair prior to the UNSC meeting.

On the question about preparations by the Thai side for the meeting, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that all the relevant facts and information had been prepared.  After the Foreign Minister delivered his statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would translate and publish his statement in Thai.  To the question about the lobbying of the UNSC member countries, he noted that it is a normal practice for countries to explain their positions when issues concerning them would be discussed in the UNSC.  On its part, Thailand had continually informed UNSC member countries of its position.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson also informed the press that on 15 February 2011, at 06.30 hrs., the Foreign Minister would give a phone-in interview to the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) which would also be broadcasted to Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5.  For those interested, there would also be live broadcast of the Foreign Minister’s media stakeout and press conference after the meeting on the United Nations’ website at www.un.org/webcast.

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14 February 2011