[PHNOM PENH POST]
THE Cambodian National Petroleum Authority is prepared for the
possibility of a restart in negotiations on the Overlapping Claims Area
in the Gulf of Thailand, according to a statement yesterday.
“CNPA
has strengthened our legal team and is prepared and ready to engage in
discussion with the Thai side whenever there is agreement between the
two governments to do so,” the statement said. The CNPA would act
pursuant to instructions from the government of Cambodia, it added.
In
2001, Cambodia and Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding laying
out joint management of the petroleum resources in the 27,000 square
kilometre area in the Gulf of Thailand. However, the agreement was put
on hold by the Thais in 2009 following the appointment of ousted Thai
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser of Cambodia.
Experts
have said the dispute is closer to being resolved with the election of
the Puea Thai government, while petroleum firms say they are ready to
explore the region. On Wednesday, Total Exploration and Production
Asia-Pacific vice president Yves Le Bais said Total was ready to begin
exploration in the area as soon as the two countries resolved the
dispute.
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