BANGKOK (NBT World) – Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa has addressed public concerns surrounding MOU 44, a memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia aimed at managing overlapping maritime claims. Maris assured that this agreement poses no threat to Thailand’s sovereignty over Koh Kood, an island in Trat province, and clarified that Koh Kood remains firmly under Thai control.
MOU 44, he explained, establishes a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to facilitate peaceful negotiations over contested maritime zones, focusing specifically on defining boundaries and collaboratively developing shared energy resources. Maris highlighted that ending MOU 44 would not remove Cambodia’s claims, emphasizing the agreement’s safeguard provision, which prevents changes to maritime sovereignty without a formal, ratified agreement.
He also stressed that the agreement does not affect Koh Kood, recognized as Thai territory under the 1907 Treaty between Siam and France. Cambodia, he noted, has likewise recognized Thailand’s sovereignty over the island, home to Thai citizens for over a century.
The minister affirmed that Thailand’s key priorities in negotiations include establishing a clear maritime boundary and safeguarding economic interests, particularly in energy resources. Any future agreements under MOU 44 will undergo parliamentary review to ensure public transparency and approval.
