AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

UN Chief Concludes His Visit to Cambodia

Phnom Penh, October 28, 2010 AKP -- The United Nations Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon has just concluded his three-day official visit to Cambodia.

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon together with his spouse and entourages were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport this afternoon by Cambodian Minister of Information H.E. Khieu Kanharith and other senior government officials.

During his stay in Cambodia, he was granted a royal audience by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia and held an official talk with Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Besides, he also visited the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the Tuol Sleng Genocidal Museum (former Khmer Rouge notorious prison or S21), and the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital.--AKP

(By KEO Chandara)

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Prime Minister Hun Sen Leaves for Vietnam

Phnom Penh, October 28, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen left here this morning to attend the 17th ASEAN Summit and other related Summit to be held from October 28 to 30 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his accompanied members were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sar Kheng, Minister of Interior and other senior government officials.

Several foreign diplomatic corps to Cambodia were also present.--AKP

(By KEO Chandara)

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PM Hun Sen Meets UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon

Phnom Penh, October 28, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen met here yesterday with the United Nations General-Secretary H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon and a number of issues had been raised and discussed during the two-hour meeting.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen informed his guest that the Cambodian-Thai conflict is not caused by the listing of the Preah Vihear Temple into the world heritage or the appointment of the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a senior economic advisor to Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, but because of the invasion of Thai military into Cambodian territory, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation who told the press conference right after the meeting.

Regarding the Khmer Rouge tribunal, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen stated clearly that there will be no new case 003 to proceed to avoid the endanger of the national peace, otherwise the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal will be failed, said Minister Hor Namhong.

The case 001 was closed after the Khmer Rouge tribunal sentenced Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, to 19 years in prison for the war crimes and crimes against humanity. The case 002 is in the process and going to sentence the four former Khmer Rouge leaders who are still alive including Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea.

Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen asked the general secretary of the United Nations to remove the head of the UN office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Christopher Peschoux from Cambodia for he does not work with the Cambodian government, but he acted as a spokesman of the opposition party. If the United Nations does not remove Christopher Peschoux, the royal government of Cambodia will close of the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Phnom Penh, said the Minister.--AKP

Mr. Ban Ki-moon is the second general secretary of the United Nations to visit Cambodia, after the first visit made by the Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali in 1993.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon is a highest level official who was received by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, which was officially inaugurated on October 19, 2010.--AKP

(By Neou)

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Air France’s Comeback with Commercial Flights to Cambodia

Phnom Penh, October 28, 2010 AKP -- Air France, one of the major airline companies in Europe, is going to launch its first commercial flight from Paris to the Kingdom of Cambodia this weekend, after more than three decades of halted operation since the 1970’s.

Air France will operate three weekly direct flights from Paris to Phnom Penh, said Nicolas Deviller, CEO of the Société Concessionaire des Aéroports (SCA) at a press conference in Phnom Penh Wednesday.

Cambodia has many places of tourist attraction, including the Angkor Wat Temple, the Capital City of Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk Province and those places draw more and more tourists from Asia, he noted, adding, “with the launch of the Air France flights, there will be more tourists from Europe to the kingdom.

At present, he said, there are 17 airline companies operating commercial flights in Cambodia: China Airlines, China Southern, Korean Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Thai Airways, China Eastern, Eva Air, Malaysia Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Silk Air, Bangkok Air, Air Asia, Dragonair, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Asia, Lao Airlines and Shanghai Airlines.

The route will be served by an Airbus A340 with a total capacity for 270 passengers. Air France also plans to use at a later stage the Boeing-777, increasing the capacity to 300 passengers, said Khek Norinda, Marketing and Public Relations Manager of SCA.

SCA has so far invested some USD230 millions for the investment in three airport improvement and management under a 45-year agreement (1995-2040) with the Government of Cambodia: the Phnom Penh International Airport and the airports in Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk Province, according to Khek Norinda.--AKP

(By Ravuth M.)

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Cambodian Boy Receives International European Union Award

Phnom Penh, October 28, 2010 AKP -- An 8-year old Cambodian boy, On Usa has won International European Union Award in the drawing contest under the theme “Gender Balance.”

The boy whose paint was selected from almost 50,000 paints from 61 countries across the world will receive award in Brussels of Belgium on Nov. 9.

On Usa is among the 14 winners to receive a cash reward of Euro 1,000 each in Brussels next month.

There are only two countries in Asia which won the international European Union award namely Cambodia and Pakistan.--AKP

(By CHEA Vannak)

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Cambodian and Malaysian Companies Joint Investment on Rice

Phnom Penh, October 28, 2010 AKP -- A local rice company of Cambodian and a Malaysian company have agreed to make a joint venture for rice export from Cambodia to Malaysia.

Scham Rice Cambodia, a Cambodian private enterprise and Bernas, a Malaysian company on October 26 signed here a joint investment to export rice from Cambodia to Malaysia.

Thanks to the fresh constructed major rice mill in Suong city, Kompong Cham province, the joint companies are expected to export rice to Malaysia from 2011, Mr. Duong Kim Lay, deputy director of Scham Rice Cambodia said.

For the first step, Bernas will invest USD 8 millions and it will increase another USD 500 millions in the next five-year period to grow rice in Kompong Thom province, he said.--AKP

(By KHAN Sophirom)