Bangkok to seek review of temple's WH status : PM

Unesco's inscription of the temple announced in July last year is is against the Unesco's regulations and spirit since it has created dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, Abhisit said.

The cabinet endorsed the stance and assigned Suwit Khunkitti, minister of Natural Resource and Environment to ask the World Heritage Committee to review the inscription during the 33rd meeting in Spain's Seville between June 22-30, he said.

Thailand will maintain its objection to the inscription of the temple although the status has been already announced since last year, Abhisit said.

Bangkok's objection will not jeopardise the relations with Phnom Penh since it could explain its stance.

He said he did not discuss the matter with his Cambodia counterpart Hun Sen when he visited Phnom Penh last week but hoped Cambodia will understand Thailand.

 "We don't talk about Cambodia but we disagree with the World Heritage Committee/Unesco and their decision," Abhisit told reporters.

Then Foreign Minister forced to step down from the position of foreign minister after Cambodia successfully listed the Preah Vihear as a world heritage site.

In 1962, Thailand and Cambodia engaged in a dispute over ownership of the temple and the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cambodia.

However both countries still disputed over the the surrounding areas of the temple. Demarcation of the boundary in the area has not completed yet.

Cambodia has delayed its plan to develop the temple as asked by the World Heritage Committee following the border conflict which led to the border clashes  with Thailand twice in October last year and April this year.

 The inscription last year suggested Cambodia to invite Thailand to join a seven-member International Coordinating Committee (ICC) to run the world heritage site of Preah Vihear.

But Thailand is reluctant to join since Bangkok does not want to recognize the Cambodia's ownership rights on the temple.