BANGKOK: Any agreement on overlapping continental shelf claims between Thailand and Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand must be acceptable to the people of both countries, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa (pic) said, Wednesday (Nov 6).

The parliaments of both countries must approve the outcome of the negotiations, based on proposals from their respective cabinets, and must act as representatives of the people in deciding whether to approve the agreement. Additionally, the agreement must comply with international and relevant laws.

“Therefore, it is impossible to negotiate in a way that benefits each party, contrary to what has been claimed recently,” Maris said.

Concerning the use of oil in these areas, the minister stressed that no activity can take place until the negotiations result in a conclusive agreement accepted by the two countries. Under MOU44, “maritime zones” and “joint development” must be negotiated simultaneously and cannot be separated.

He said that if the negotiations are successful, the main beneficiaries must be the Thai nation and people, who will benefit from a clearly defined maritime border and access to significantly cheaper energy.

In response to calls for MOU44 to be canceled on the grounds that it would recognize Cambodia’s claims and endanger Thai territory, Maris clarified that MOU44 does not recognize Cambodia’s claims to the continental shelf and would not result in no loss of Thai territory. Ko Kut remains entirely under Thai sovereignty, without exception, he said.

The key point of MOU44 is only an agreement “to be negotiated”. The attached map simply illustrates “each country’s respective continental shelf claims” and the lines depicted do not constitute an official maritime boundary, contrary to some misunderstandings, he explained.

“The retention of MOU44 is more of an advantage than a disadvantage, as this agreement obliges both parties to simultaneously engage in negotiations on maritime borders and areas of common development.”

Regarding the government’s 2009 decision to consider rescinding MOU44, with a directive to thoroughly examine relevant legal issues before submitting it to Cabinet and Parliament, Maris explained that during this review process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held discussions, gathering input from the international community. legal advisors, concerned citizens and relevant agencies, including those focused on security and legal issues.

This led to the 2014 Cabinet resolution that maintaining MoU 44 would bring more benefits than harms. Importantly, a clearly defined maritime boundary would also facilitate transparent negotiations on the use of oil resources.

“Please be assured that the negotiations will prioritize Thailand’s sovereignty and the interests of the Thai people, and I affirm that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will act with the highest level of professionalism,” Maris said. – The Nation/ANN