Wednesday, 22 July 2009

France Promises to Provide Priority Financing to Cambodia during the Visit of Hun Sen – Tuesday, 21.7.2009

Posted on 22 July 2009.
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 622

“A Cambodian high ranking official said that providing financial resources to Cambodia to develop the country is a priority, announced by French leaders during the official visit of Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen to Paris on 13 and 14 July 2009, to attend the National Day celebrations of France, which included the observation of a military parade.

“Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen left Cambodia on 9 July 2009 and returned safely on 19 July 2009. During the visit, he went also to England to attend the graduation ceremony of his eldest son.

“An official of the delegation of the prime minister, Mr. Prak Sokhon, said that the visit of Samdech Dekchor to France is the highest level visit ever where the timing for meetings had been prepared to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister François Fillon ["le blog de François Fillon – la France peut supporter la vérité (the blog of François Fillon – France can support the truth)"], and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner during the busy time to celebrate the National Day, and the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs also invited the Cambodian Prime Minister to have lunch on 13 and on 14 July 2009.

“Mr. Prak Sokhon said during the press conference at the Phnom Penh International Airport that most French leaders considered the visit and the participation of Samdech Hun Sen and the delegation, and their observation of the military parade celebrating the French National Day, as an honor for France and the French people, and also as a new opportunity for developing both countries’ ties, following the history that both countries have together from the past to the present. Mr. Prak Sokhon added that during the discussions, France promised to provide funds to Cambodia, especially, President Sarkozy confirmed again and again that there will be provision of aid.

“Mr. Prak Sokhon added that Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy said that France is prepared to help Cambodia, and Cambodia can depend on the friendship and support of France. The President added that the promise to provide financing for the development of Cambodia will continue and it is a priority for France.

“According to Mr. Prak Sokhon, both sides expressed agreement during the discussion with the three French leaders, to intensify the ties between both countries, and they agreed to speed up this process towards better cooperation. Samdech Dekchor informed the French leaders about the decision of the Royal Government to provide a concession for Block 3 to the Total petroleum company of France, which, after proper discussions and assessments, was welcomed by France, both by the state and by the private sector, and it is expected that the investment in Cambodia by this French company will benefit and promote new trade and economic ties.

“Regarding the Preah Vihear region, Samdech Dekchor told France that the Royal Government of Cambodia has the position to prevent the current dispute between Cambodia and Thailand from spreading and affecting other sectors of both countries’ cooperation or affecting other regions along the Cambodian-Thai border. Related to the court faced by former Khmer Rouge leaders, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen told the French leaders that it is proceeding smoothly, despite some minor technical problems, adding that to seek justice for the Cambodian people, who are victims of a genocidal regime, must be in line with maintaining the peace that was achieved with difficulties in the past.

“Mr. Prak Sokhon went on to say that responding to questions from the French leaders, whether the Khmer Rouge ideology or Khmer Rouge forces remain in Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen said the political and military structure of the Khmer Rouge was dissolved through a Win-Win policy, and the Khmer Rouge ideology does no longer exist in Cambodia. But Samdech warned that the court hearings of four Khmer Rouge leaders should be handled carefully to prevent that they threaten the peace that is now in Cambodia.

“Mr. Prak Sokhon continued to say that Samdech Dekchor asked France to continue granting aid like during more than 10 years in the past. Also, he asked France to continue to offer doctorate and master degrees to Cambodian students, and to assist the health sector, the educational sector, and other sectors.

“Mr. Prak Sokhon added that during the discussion, both sides agreed to encourage the creation of a cooperation committee for both countries as soon as possible, in September or October, in order to intensify the ties between both countries. This will relate to technology and to administration, and the private sector and France will send French agencies for development which will provide loans in response to requests from Cambodia, and France will put its major investments into that committee in order to consider and to encourage French investment in Cambodia.”

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2001, 21.7.2009
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Tuesday, 21 July 2009

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