UNESCO Reaffirms Preah Vihear Monitoring, Cultural Diplomacy to Ease Cambodia-Thailand Tensions

Busan, South Korea, July 21, 2026 (KPT) – UNESCO has reaffirmed its role in monitoring developments at Preah Vihear Temple and backing cultural cooperation to ease tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, Cambodia’s culture ministry said Tuesday. The pledge came during talks between Culture Minister Phoeurng Sackona and UNESCO Deputy Director‑General for Culture Nayef Al‑Fayez on the sidelines of the World Heritage Committee’s 48th session in Busan. Sackona congratulated Al‑Fayez on his appointment and thanked UNESCO for a March expert mission report on Preah Vihear, carried out by specialists from the committee and ICOMOS at Cambodia’s invitation. She described the findings as technically detailed and an accurate reflection of conditions at the temple, according to the ministry. The Cambodian minister also informed UNESCO of Phnom Penh’s plan to host a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during its 2026‑2030 membership. Al‑Fayez voiced support for the proposal and said UNESCO would continue close monitoring of the Preah Vihear case, reaffirming its readiness to contribute to dialogue and cultural diplomacy between Cambodia and Thailand. Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008, remains a point of contention between the two neighbours despite international efforts to preserve the site and reduce border tensions. The temple, perched on a cliff along the frontier, has long been a flashpoint in bilateral relations, with disputes occasionally spilling into armed clashes. UNESCO’s renewed engagement underscores the organisation’s dual role in safeguarding heritage and promoting peace through cultural cooperation, a mission Cambodia says is vital to easing tensions and protecting one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic monuments.