AKP Phnom Penh, August 14, 2026 --

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia has welcomed the appointment of Ms. Katrina Cooper as Chairperson of the Conciliation Commission established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Ministry issued the statement following the announcement by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that the four Conciliators had appointed Ms. Cooper as Chairperson of the Commission, which was constituted pursuant to UNCLOS.

Cambodia expressed its gratitude to Ms. Cooper for accepting the important responsibility and joining the other eminent international experts on the Commission. The Kingdom also thanked the Conciliators for the rigorous process undertaken to select the Chairperson.

The Ministry described the appointment as an important step in the conciliation process initiated by Cambodia, expressing confidence that the process would provide an opportunity to resolve differences over the maritime boundary and facilitate the development of significant oil and gas resources in the overlapping claims area.

According to the Ministry, progress on both issues comes at a critical time for regional energy security.

The Royal Government of Cambodia remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of maritime issues in accordance with international law and will continue to place its trust in the compulsory conciliation process under UNCLOS.

The Conciliation Commission comprises independent Conciliators appointed by the Parties. Cambodia appointed Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen and Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, while Thailand appointed Judges Rüdiger Wolfrum and Albert Hoffmann. The four Conciliators subsequently appointed Ms. Cooper as Chairperson in consultation with the Parties.

With the Conciliation Commission now constituted, the process is expected to proceed to its first procedural meeting in the coming weeks.

By C. Nika