MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia

15.2.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Fiorello Provera, Niki Tzavela, Nikolaos Salavrakos, Claudio Morganti, Rolandas Paksas on behalf of the EFD Group

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B7‑0136/2011

European Parliament resolution on border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Thailand and Cambodia,

 

– having regard to the statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand,

 

– having regard to the Statement by the UN Secretary General of 7 February 2011,

 

– having regard to the statement by the UNESCO Director General expressing alarm over the escalation of violence between Thailand and Cambodia,

 

– having regard to the judgement of the International Court of Justice of 15 June 1962 on the case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand),

 

– having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas there is a long-running border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over territory in the vicinity of Preah Vihear, a temple complex dating from the 11th century,

 

B. whereas in 1959 the dispute was referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in 1962 that the area in the vicinity of Preah Vihear was part of Cambodian territory, based upon maps that had been prepared in 1907 by a joint border commission established by Siam and the French colonial authorities in Cambodia; whereas Thailand accepts Cambodia's sovereignty over Preah Vihear, but land surrounding the temple remains in dispute,

 

C. whereas on 8 July 2008 the temple complex was listed as a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage site, despite formal objections from Thailand;

 

D. whereas between 4 and 7 of February 2011 there were exchanges of gunfire between soldiers from Thailand and Cambodia with at least eight people killed and thousands displaced;

 

E. whereas the current Chair of ASEAN, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in Phnom Penh on 7 February and with the Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya, on 8 February in Bangkok, in order to promote a bilateral solution to end the dispute;

 

F. whereas on 7 February 2011 UN Security Council members held consultations confirming that the Council would continue to follow this issue closely;

 

G. whereas on 8 February 2011 the Director General of UNESCO announced that a mission would visit the temple complex to assess if there had been any damage;

 

1. Is deeply concerned about the armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand around their common border area that took place between 4 and 6 of February 2011;

 

2. Calls on both countries to exercise utmost restraint, taking the necessary steps to reduce tension, and to resume their dialogue in order to resolve their differences peacefully;

 

3. Welcomes the decision by the Director General of UNESCO to send a Special Envoy on a mission of good offices to Bangkok and Phnom Penh;

 

4. Highlights the importance of the development within the European External Action Service of mediation and conflict-prevention and resolution capabilities, to be implemented in partnership with regional organisation such as ASEAN;

 

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, Member States, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government of Thailand, the Government of Cambodia, the Secretary-General and Chairman in Office of ASEAN and the Director General of UNESCO.