We, the leadership, officials, and staff of the National Election Committee (NEC), would like to express our resilient support for the special statement delivered on 2nd June 2026, by Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei, Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, addressed to the Cambodian compatriots on the "Resolution of the Royal Government of Cambodia regarding the Overlapping Claim Area (OCA) with Thailand" by using the compulsory conciliation mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) following Thailand's unilateral withdrawal from the Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and Thailand (MOU2001) concerning the overlapping maritime zone claim area in the Gulf of Thailand (Thai reference as MOU44).
The Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and Thailand (MOU2001) has played a significant role in the only agreed bilateral framework for both sides in order to resolve their maritime boundaries and overlapping claim area for over 25 years, and its entry into force has demonstrated the spirit of cooperation and mutual goodwill of both states. However, the unilateral withdrawal of the Thai side from the Memorandum of Understanding was an abandonment of the only bilateral agreement that both sides have relied on and utilized.
The right decision of the Royal Government of Cambodia to use the compulsory conciliation mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is a peaceful resolution based on international law and genuine will, allowing both the Cambodian people and the Thai people to live together in peace and long-lasting harmony.
Once again, we all would like to reaffirm our solemn support for the actions of the Royal Government of Cambodia and its unwavering commitment to applying international law to safeguard national sovereignty and build regional peace and good-neighborly relations.
