Cambodian premier pledges to tackling Myanmar crisis
As Cambodia prepares to assume the role of Asean chair in 15 days, Prime Minister Hun Sen has committed to tackling two important issues – the Myanmar crisis and the Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South China Sea but called for understanding if the efforts fail.
Speaking in front of foreign diplomats, including from some Asean member states, at the inauguration of the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh Hotel, Mr Hun Sen said finding an Asean consensus about Myanmar’s crisis and the CoC are the main priorities as Cambodia chairs the regional bloc next year.
“Do not hope for too much, but do not underestimate the role of Cambodia, and let Cambodia do it first. Do not disturb Cambodia. We strive for these important things,” he said.
The Premier said Cambodia, as the chair of the grouping, should not be blamed if a resolution is not found to end the Myanmar crisis because Asean is just a mediator. The main issue is reconciliation among the parties in Myanmar itself.
“As is our experience, to achieve the Paris Peace Agreement on October 23, 1991, Cambodia took four years while full peace needed more time until December 26, 1998,” said Mr Hun Sen.
On Myanmar’s crisis, the Prime Minister said Prak Sokhonn, Foreign Affairs Minister, will be nominated to be the new Asean envoy to Myanmar.
Mr Hun Sen also said Cambodia will commit to bringing the consensus in Asean back to ten member states not nine for the next regional summit.
On the South China Sea issue, Mr Hun Sen said they should not blame Cambodia, as was done in 2012 when Asean concluded the summit without a chair statement. Cambodia was Asean chair in 2012.
Mr Hun Sen said Asean is not a judge in the South China Sea dispute, but as chair of the grouping, Cambodia will strive to have effective and mutually acceptable negotiations for a CoC.
He stressed that Cambodia has three main stances on the South China Sea issue: first to fully apply the terms of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea; second, let the state parties concerned in the South China Sea dispute mediate and settle the issue peacefully because Asean is not a court and has no right to divide the land for them; and third, Cambodia has strived to achieve a CoC that is acceptable to all parties in the dispute.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES