Cambodia rebuffs sanction policy
Prime Minister Hun Sen departs for Europe. KT/Khem Sovannara. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.
PHNOM PENH, Feb 5, 2020, NST. Prime Minister Hun Sen said all his decisions have been for the good of his country and that the government never acted to please certain foreign powers. Urging other nations to support Cambodia’s development, he said a sound foreign relations policy was necessary and should focus on protecting the country’s independence, territorial integrity, peace, security and order, New Straits Times reported.
According to the Phnom Penh Post, Hun Sen said the world had become complex with state and non-state actors competing to control, manage and even resolve world affairs.
“Pressure from this multi-polar world order overwhelmingly affects smaller and weaker countries such as Cambodia. Given this, a sanctions-based policy to bring these nations into the fold is not the right approach.”
He said the international community should assist Cambodia to become stronger and unified, rather than bringing it down.
“Smaller and less-influential countries are often victims of ‘inappropriate double standards regarding democracy and human rights’, which are used to interfere in their internal affairs.
“They should respect our choice of political, economic and social systems. Since the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the government has always chosen what’s in the best interest of the people.”
Hun Sen said his country had chosen to provide fundamental rights for the people, maintain peace, security and stability, and protect the kingdom’s independence and sovereignty.
“This is the will of the Cambodian people. We will never surrender our independence and sovereignty, no matter who we befriend.”
He also urged the Foreign Ministry to disseminate the slogan “Expanding our foreign friends with a strong spirit of unity”.
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