The Foreign Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia today began in Singapore a conciliation process to resolve a maritime dispute between the two countries. The mediation is under the auspices of the UN, which was invited to intervene as a facilitator in the negotiations.
The dispute centers on the delimitation of maritime boundaries between the two countries, specifically in areas containing natural gas reserves and hydrocarbons. The territorial issue has been a source of tension between the neighboring nations for several years.
The conciliation process is taking place in the city-state of Singapore, which was chosen as a neutral venue for the negotiations. The authorities of both countries expressed hope that international mediation will allow them to reach a peaceful and mutually agreed solution to the dispute.
