Cambodia, Thailand Will Likely Resume Talks on Offshore Oil and Gas
Cambodia’s and Thailand’s governments will likely resume negotiations on offshore drilling for oil and gas which will bring mutual benefits of the area of overlapping maritime claims after Cambodia gave the green light for issues before the visit of new Thai foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul who will be in Cambodia on September 14th. “Cambodia would welcome the resumption of open and official negotiations on the issue (overlapping claim area) and will pursue such a course as soon as practicable in the mutual interests of both people and countries,” the statement from Cambodian National Petroleum Authority said on August 30th. The statement from Cambodian National Petroleum Authority 30 August 2011 also revealed the secret talks on issues with former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. The declaration of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority on the negotiation of the area of overlapping maritime claims said the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA), under instructions from the Royal Government of Cambodia, has a firm commitment to finding an equitable and transparent resolution to the overlapping claim area (OCA). In June 2001, the Royal Government of Cambodia and The Royal Thai Government entered into a Memorandum of understanding (MoU), setting out an agreed area to be delimited and agreed to form a joint development area (JDA)… Overlapping claim areas between Cambodia and Thailand is known about the 27,000 square kilometers stretch of seabed considered rich in oil and gas. Cambodia’s, and Thailand’s governments are trying to restore the bilateral and good cooperation after it soured during the time of former Thai PM Abhisit over border issues.
