Alatas arrives in Cambodia<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (AFP): Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas
\narrived in Phnom Penh for a brief visit Saturday, after
\ndescribing Cambodia's admission to the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) as a \"watershed event\", officials said.<\/p>\n
Cambodia joined the regional grouping Friday at a ceremony in
\nHanoi, shaking off decades of international isolation and
\nfulfilling the bloc's dream of embracing all 10 Southeast Asian
\nneighbors.<\/p>\n
\"Yesterday was a historic day for Cambodia and ASEAN,\" Alatas,
\nwho attended the ceremony, told reporters on his arrival here.<\/p>\n
\"I am very pleased to be back in Cambodia and grateful for the
\nhonor ... It is quite different (to 1997),\" he said referring to
\ndomestic political unrest here.<\/p>\n
Cambodia was supposed to have joined ASEAN in 1997, but its
\nmembership was put on hold when a bitter political rivalry
\nbetween then co-premiers Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh
\nburst into the open.<\/p>\n
Prince Ranariddh was ousted from Phnom Penh in fierce fighting
\nand fled to neighboring Thailand. Hun Sen became sole prime
\nminister following polls in July last year.<\/p>\n
Alatas was met at the airport by his Cambodian counterpart,
\nHor Namhong, who returned here from Hanoi just ahead of the
\nIndonesian minister.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alatas-arrives-in-cambodia-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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