AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

AKP/01

PM: The Date of Aggression and Withdrawal of Thai Troops Recorded in History

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- The date of the aggression of Thai troops on Cambodian territory at Preah Vihear Temple area and that of their withdrawal have been written there.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen said this morning at an inauguration ceremony at Battambang province.

All Thai troops have been withdrawn from the Keo Sikkha Kiri Svara Pagoda, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, adding that the word “aggression” has now come to an end.

I had “This is the aggression place on July 15, 2008 and the withdrawal was made at 10:30am on December 1, 2010,” written there, he said.

Earlier on Dec. 6, the Cambodian prime minister affirmed that Cambodia-Thailand relations returned to the date before July 15, 2008 and this was the results of the four meetings between the premiers of the two neighboring countries. --AKP

Text by CHEY Phum Pul

Translated by SOKMOM Nimul

-------------------

AKP/02

PM Hun Sen Presides Over Inauguration Ceremony of Battambang University

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen presided over today in Battambang province, some 290 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, the inauguration ceremony of the Battambang University and other achievements in the university’s compound.

The university, equipped with modern equipment, and other achievements were built at the total cost of over US$65 million, funded by Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim, National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister H.E. Sar Kheng and many other local and foreign charitable people.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Samdech Techo Hun Sen was convinced that this new achievement will become an important education and training center for Battambang and other northwestern provinces.

Human resource is the major force to ensure socio-economic development and prosperity, and to increase people’s living standard, he said.

The Cambodian premier also called on both national and international development partners, private sector and charitable people to further contribute to developing Cambodia’s human resource.

The inaugurated achievements include school buildings, a library, a canteen, a teachers’ house, a boarding building, a laboratory, a conference hall, etc.

Battambang University has currently about 5,000 students, of them 2,182 are girls, studying in 24 different majors including the Nuclear Engineering, the newest major in Cambodia. --AKP

Text by CHEY Phum Pul

Translated by SOKMOM Nimul

-------------------

AKP/03

PM To Visit China Next Week

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, will lead a high delegation to pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from Dec. 13 to 17.

The visit will be made at the invitation of H.E. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, said a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dated Wednesday.

During the visit, Samdech Techo Hun Sen will be received in a royal audience by His Majesty King-Father Preah Norodom Sihanouk and Her Majesty Queen-Mother Preah Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia.

Besides, the Cambodian premier will pay courtesy calls on H.E. Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China; H.E. Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and hold official talk with his Chinese counterpart H.E. Wen Jiabao.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen will also visit cities: Tianjin, Wuxi, Suzhou and Nanjing.

During the visit, 11 documents are also expected to be signed.

The Cambodian delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Hor Namhong, Senior Minister and Commerce Minister H.E. Cham Prasidh and other high-ranking officials of the Royal Government of Cambodia. --AKP

-------------------

AKP/04

Cambodia, Cuba Reaffirm Friendship

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Top Cuban and Cambodian lawmakers Wednesday reaffirmed the friendly relations between the two legislatures and the two countries.

Both President of the Cuban National Assembly of the People's Power Ricardo Alarcon and visiting head of Cambodian Parliament Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin reiterated the stance during their meeting at the National Hote, Chinese News Agency Xinhua reported.

Samdech Heng Samrin, who had visited Cuba four times before, thanked the host for the hospitality and reaffirmed his country's interest on expending ties with Cuba.

Alarcon said he appreciated Cambodia's struggle for independence and noted that Samdech Heng Samrin's visit was made on the occasion to celebrate 50 years of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Last month, Havana's Friendship House issued a stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral relationship. --AKP

-------------------

AKP/05

Cambodian Premier Warns FUNCINPEC Officials’ Removal from the Government Posts

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen warned to remove immediately from the government posts those who leave the FUNCINPEC Party and wish to enter other political parties.

In a letter signed by the Cambodian premier on Dec. 8 and sent to Cambodian compatriots, he rejected a rumor that he gave a green light or a support to Prince Norodom Ranariddh to re-enter politics and government officials in the ranks of senior minister, minister, secretary of state, undersecretary of state or government advisor who join the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) to be changed from the Nationalist Party in the near future will be kept in their posts through a concession made between Norodom Ranariddh Party and him.

The premier’s letter also clarified the relation between him and Prince Norodom Ranariddh through a correspondence, and the formation of coalition government between the Cambodian People’s Party and the FUNCIPEC, not with the Norodom Ranariddh Party.

The Norodom Ranariddh Party was established in 2007 after the prince was toppled from the president of the royalist FUNCINPEC Party in 2006.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh was removed from his post as FUNCINPEC president in connection with claims that he embezzled party funds. --AKP

By THOU Peou

-------------------

AKP/06

PM Hun Sen Receives Lao Minister of Labor

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen received here yesterday a visiting Lao delegation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare led by its Minister Mrs. Onechanh Thammavong.

During the meeting, the Lao minister of Labor and Social Welfare informed Samdech Techo Hun Sen of her visit, the purpose of which she said is to promote the cooperation and exchange experiences with the Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training.

She said she noted the Cambodian government’s attention in building human resource, the main factor for economic development, Ieng Sophalet, assistance to the Cambodian premier told reporters upon the meeting.

She also expressed her condolences to the Cambodian victims of the recent stampede tragedy.

In reply, the Cambodian premier thanked Mrs. Onechanh Thammavong for her condolences.

Regarding the cooperation between the two Ministries of Labor, Samdech Techo Hun Sen recommended that the cooperation should focus on the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle.

He deeply thanked the Lao government for its cooperation in providing medical treatment to the Cambodian people living at the Cambodian-Lao border areas. He suggested that this cooperation should be expanded, especially between the border authorities. This will help boost the cooperation and the closeness between the two peoples, he stressed.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen further shared with the Lao side Cambodia’s experiences in dealing with the global financial crisis. --AKP

By SOKMOM Nimul

-------------------

AKP/07

Cambodia, Vietnam Further Strengthen Judicial Cooperation

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Acting President of the National Assembly H.E. Nguon Nhel received here on Dec. 8 visiting Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam Mr. Tran Quoc Vuong.

In the meeting, Mr. Tran Quoc Vuong said his first five-day visit to Cambodia (Dec. 5-9) is aimed at exchanging experiences and further strengthening the judicial and legal cooperation with Cambodia, especially that related to cross border crimes.

Mr. Tran Quoc Vuong also expressed his condolence to the victims’ families of the recent stampede tragedy at Koh Pich.

In reply, H.E. Nguon Nhel told his guest of the royal government’s special attention to the victims’ families.

Regarding the Cambodia-Vietnam judicial and legal cooperation, the acting NA president said the MoUs already signed by the two countries will help improve the capacity of the judicial and legal officials, and the effectiveness in combating offenses, particularly cross border crimes.

Cambodia and Vietnam had signed the MoU on cooperation in the fields of law and justice in December 2009 and the MoU on judicial cooperation in March 2010.

During his stay here, Mr. Tran Quoc Vuong was also received by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. --AKP

By LIM Nary

-------------------

AKP/08

Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos Determine to Enhance Co-op in Combating Drugs

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- The 10th tripartite/bilateral ministerial meeting on drug control cooperation between Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos began on Wednesday.

Ke Kim Yan, chairman of the Cambodia's National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), called for more cooperation among the three countries to achieve the ASEAN free of drugs by 2015.

“There are flaws in cooperation among the three countries in combating drugs,” Ke Kim Yan was quoted as saying by Chinese News Agency Xinhua as saying during the opening ceremony.

He said that the three countries should intensify more cooperation to complete the flaw of cooperation in order to prevent circulation, production, farming drug crops at border areas of the three countries and turn the border areas as the wall to prevent production, plantation, circulation, smuggling, transit, and consumption of drugs.

“We need more efforts and cooperation to combat drug criminals to achieve the ASEAN free of drug by 2015,” he said.

Moeuk Dara, secretary general of the NACD, told reporters after the opening ceremony that Cambodia is actively combating against drug criminals.

In 2010, 320 cases of drug offensives have been cracked down with 638 suspects including 63 foreigners (three Laotians) and drugs were seized for destruction, he said.

He added that the number of drug addicts in Cambodia is still stable at 6,000 drug addicts. Currently, 1,119 drug addicts have been in the centers for drug quit and education.

The three-day meeting is attended by 84 drug officials from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

The Laotian officials led by Soubanh Sritthirath, chairman of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision, and Vietnamese officials led by Le The Tiem, deputy minister of Public Security and permanent member of the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs, Prostitution Control of Vietnam. --AKP

-------------------

AKP/09

Diamond Bridge Re-opened and Two More Bridges To Be Constructed Soon

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- The Diamond Bridge (Pich Bridge) was re-opened with a Buddhist ceremony yesterday after more than two-week closure since the stampede tragedy on Nov. 22, on the final day of the annual Water Festival that killed 353 people and injured 394 others.

Phnom Penh Municipality Governor H.E. Kep Chutema and the owner of the Diamond Island (Koh Pich) Oknha Pung Kheav Se participated in the Buddhist ceremony.

On the occasion, H.E. Kep Chutema told reporters that two more bridges will be built soon next to the Diamond Bridge.

A memorial for the deceased victims will be constructed in the north of the Diamond Bridge, he added. --AKP

By Théng

-------------------

AKP/10

Cambodian, Thai Companies Reach Cement-Plant Investment

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- The Cambodian Chip Mong Construction Group and the Siam City Cement Public Co., Ltd. yesterday reached an agreement to explore a cement-plant investment opportunities in Cambodia.

Oknha Leang Khun, Chief Executive Officer of Chip Mong Construction Group said both companies will join hands in a cement-plant investment in Cambodia.

Under the two-year investment plan, we want to build a US$200-million cement plant in Kampot. This factory is expected to produce from 1 to 1.5 million tons of cement annually, Oknha Leang Meng, general director of the Chip Mong Construction Group said.

Our cement products are expected to meet the local demands and to be exported to European countries, he added. --AKP

By KHAN Sophirom

-------------------

AKP/11

Cambodia’s Most Banks in Good Health in the Triple Rise of Capital: NBC

Phnom Penh, December 9, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia’s most commercial banks are set to meet the requirement of the triple increase of the registered capital by the end of this year, Director General of the National Bank of Cambodia, Tal Nay Im was quoted by Chinese News Agency Xinhua as saying on Wednesday.

“Our primary assessment shows that most banks have met the requirement,” she said.

“The process towards the triple increase of the capital by the end of this year for the banks in going well,” she said. “But I cannot reveal if all the Kingdom’s 30 commercial banks will meet the requirement until the deadline on Dec. 31 comes.”

In September 2008, in bid to strengthen the banks’ health against any financial crisis, the National Bank of Cambodia issued a prakas, or edict, requiring all commercial banks in the Kingdom to triple their registered capital from then US$13 million to US$37.5 million by Dec. 31, 2010.

The prakas excluded banks with at least one influential shareholder as a bank or financial institution with a rating “investment grade” extended by a reputable rating agency.

Thai Saphear, head of the governor’s office at the NBC cabinet, told Xinhua on Wednesday that in general, the banks are in good health, but he is not sure all the banks will meet the requirement. --AKP