Bangkok: Thailand has appointed legal experts from South Africa and Germany to represent it in a UN-backed conciliation process initiated by Cambodia to resolve a long-running maritime dispute in the Gulf of Thailand.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Thai Foreign Ministry announced the appointment of German jurist Rudiger Wolfrum and South African maritime law expert Albert Hoffmann as conciliators for proceedings under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as reported by Thai PBS World. This move comes after Cambodia decided to initiate a compulsory conciliation process following Thailand's withdrawal from a 2001 memorandum of understanding, which had previously provided a framework for negotiations over overlapping maritime claims in the region.

Bangkok clarified that the conciliation mechanism does not involve a binding ruling and remains separate from issues related to sovereignty. The Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means and international law, emphasizing the non-binding nature of the arbitration process.

Cambodia has appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn as its representative in the proceedings, alongside international legal experts selected by Phnom Penh, according to CamboJA News. The dispute focuses on an overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand, believed to contain significant natural gas and petroleum resources, highlighting its economic importance in Southeast Asia.

The neighboring countries have aimed to manage tensions through diplomatic channels, despite occasional disagreements over maritime boundaries and resource development rights. The conciliation process is anticipated to establish a panel that will facilitate negotiations and offer recommendations to help both sides reach a mutually acceptable settlement.