AKP Phnom Penh, June 02, 2026 --

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn on Tuesday briefed heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organisations in Phnom Penh on recent developments concerning the Cambodia-Thailand border situation, with particular focus on Cambodia's decision to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the briefing took place at the Ministry on the afternoon of June 2.

During the meeting, H.E. Prak Sokhonn expressed Cambodia's deep appreciation to ASEAN member states, ASEAN partners, and friends of both Cambodia and Thailand for their continued support for the ceasefire and efforts to seek a peaceful settlement of the Cambodia-Thailand border disputes.

He informed the participants that, on June 2 June, the Royal Government of Cambodia sent a formal notification to Thailand and the Secretary-General of the United Nations regarding Cambodia's initiation of compulsory conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS to peacefully resolve the overlapping maritime claims.

The Deputy Prime Minister recalled Cambodia's deep regret and disappointment over Thailand's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Memorandum of Understanding between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand regarding the Area of Their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf (MOU-2001).

According to H.E. Prak Sokhonn, the MOU-2001 reflected the genuine will and intention of both countries to work together, in good faith and in compliance with international law, to peacefully settle their maritime boundary and jointly develop resources in the areas of overlapping maritime claims.

He noted that for over the past 25 years, the MOU-2001 had served as the sole bilateral framework upon which both parties relied to resolve their overlapping maritime claims. As Thailand had withdrawn from the MOU-2001, Cambodia, after carefully considering all available peaceful and lawful options, concluded that it had no alternative but to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister also recalled the first compulsory conciliation process under UNCLOS between Timor-Leste and Australia, which was successfully concluded with the peaceful settlement of their maritime boundary in 2018. He expressed hope that, by initiating this peaceful legal mechanism under UNCLOS, Cambodia could, for the second time in the history of the Convention, demonstrate the value of international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes in protecting sovereignty, strengthening confidence, unlocking resources, supporting development, and contributing to peace and stability, not only for Cambodia and Thailand but also for the region as a whole.

H.E. Prak Sokhonn reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to resolving the overlapping maritime claims with Thailand through peaceful means and expressed Cambodia's sincere hope that both countries would achieve a fair and lasting settlement.

 
By C. Nika