Govt eyes WHC meet

June 22, 2011
Source: Bangkok Post

Four countries hoping to host 2012 conference

Thailand has begun to lobby the World Heritage Committee to host the organisation's meeting next year.

Four countries - Thailand, Cambodia, Russia and Bahrain - have put their names forward to host the annual meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's WHC in 2012, officials said.

A government source said Thailand's bid to host the next meeting could give the country more sway over the body's decision when it considers Cambodia's plan to manage the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which has caused a border dispute between the two countries.

But, things could turn around if Cambodia is selected as host, the source said.

The plan to pursue the event came after the cabinet appointed a committee, chaired by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, to work on making an application.

In an effort to win votes, Mr Suwit, who heads the Thai delegation, yesterday hosted a dinner for delegates from other nations as well as WHC officials.

In light of their ongoing border conflict and their business before the WHC, chances are slim that either Thailand or Cambodia would be chosen to host the meeting, said Manit Siriwan, a former member of the National World Heritage Committee.

Russia is a more likely candidate because it has never hosted a WHC meeting before, he said.

Cambodia has never been host either.

Thailand hosted the 18th session of Unesco's general conference in Phuket in 1994, the first Asian country to do so.

Mr Manit also said that being host would not give Bangkok an edge over Cambodia on the Preah Vihear issue.

The WHC meeting host does not have privileges over other countries, he said.

"Good relationships with the other 20 member countries, not being the host country, will put Thailand at an advantage when we want to seek their support," he said.

Unesco's rules state each WHC member can nominate itself as host for the next meeting. The host for the 2012 meeting will be announced on June29, the last day of this year's WHC meeting.