Cambodian for Resource Revenue Transparency have applauded a statement issued on Tuesday by the Cambodia National Petroleum Authority that called for renewed talks with Thailand on the long-disputed Overlapping Claims Area in the Gulf of Thailand. CRRT chairman Mam Sambath said the statement was a “strong sign” that increased the possibility of resolving the dispute and exploiting potential oil reserves in the gulf. The two countries signed an agreement on joint management of the OCA in 2001 and held talks until 2007. That agreement was put on hold by Thailand in 2009, but the statement claimed secret meetings between the two countries on the issue had continued with the government of previous Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.