Phnom penh: Cambodian Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra has urged the public to focus on the legal arguments, facts, and concrete solutions presented by Cambodia and Thailand rather than the number of accusations made by the Thai side during the first meeting of the Conciliation Commission under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, H.E. Neth Pheaktra stated that Thailand's opening statement raised various issues related to the land border dispute, military incidents, and other political matters that fall outside the core subject of the conciliation process. H.E. Neth Pheaktra emphasized that making more accusations does not equate to having stronger legal arguments.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra clarified that the Conciliation Commission was not established to determine which party can make stronger or more numerous accusations against the other. Instead, the commission's purpose is to assist the two parties in finding a peaceful and workable solution to the longstanding deadlock over their maritime boundary.

Cambodia has presented a clear and solution-oriented position. It has proposed concrete pathways toward a resolution, aiming for an outcome that benefits both countries and contributes to peace, cooperation, and shared prosperity in the region. The proposed approaches include concluding a treaty with Thailand to establish a single, comprehensive maritime boundary or an agreement for the joint development and equitable sharing of resources pending a final agreement on the maritime boundary.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra urged the Cambodian public not to be overly concerned or assume that Cambodia must respond to every accusation made by Thailand. He noted that many of these issues have already been addressed publicly and that the international community and various observers have access to the facts, evidence, and developments on the ground.

The Cambodian Minister reiterated that accusations might generate headlines, but they cannot resolve the maritime boundary issue. Instead, facts, international law, good-faith negotiations, and practical proposals for settlement are required to break the deadlock that has persisted for decades.

In conclusion, H.E. Neth Pheaktra encourages focusing on legal arguments and solutions rather than the number of accusations. Cambodia's responsibility is to present the facts, uphold international law, and continue to advance workable solutions. The key question now is what concrete solution Thailand is prepared to offer to help move beyond the current deadlock.