(Phnom Penh): The Permanent Court of Arbitration announced that, from 14 to 16 September 2026, the Conciliation Commission constituted under Annex V to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will hold its first meeting with Cambodia and Thailand in Singapore.

According to a statement seen by Fresh News on Thursday (Sep. 10), Cambodia welcomes this important next step and will be represented by its Agent, Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and its Deputy Agent, Lam Chea, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, together with the Cambodian delegation and legal team.

The opening statements of the Parties will take place on Tuesday 15 September at 08:00 Cambodia time (09:00 local Singapore time) and will be open to the public and webcast live in Khmer, English and Thai. Cambodia's opening statement will be delivered by Prak Sokhonn.

The meeting marks another important milestone in the peaceful process initiated by Cambodia to resolve the countries' maritime differences. Cambodia had recourse to compulsory conciliation after Thailand unilaterally terminated the agreed bilateral framework through which the two Kingdoms had negotiated their overlapping maritime claims for more than two decades. Compulsory conciliation under Annex V to UNCLOS is a non-adjudicatory process in which a neutral commission assists the Parties in seeking an amicable settlement. The mechanism was previously used successfully by Timor-Leste and Australia, whose conciliation culminated in the signing of a treaty establishing their maritime boundary in 2018.

Cambodia hopes that the process can similarly assist Cambodia and Thailand in reaching a fair and lasting resolution of their maritime differences, including the opportunity to unlock the significant oil and gas resources for the benefit of both countries at a critical time for regional energy security.

Cambodia firmly believes that international law provides the foundation for the peaceful resolution of disputes between States. Cambodia enters these proceedings in good faith and in a spirit of cooperation, with full confidence in the Conciliation Commission.
=FRESH NEWS