Cambodia counts on continued RI support
JAKARTA (JP): Cambodian leaders yesterday urged Indonesia to continue helping to rebuild their country after seeing it through a prolonged and destructive civil war.
Cambodia's co-prime ministers Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen arrived yesterday for a three-day visit which is expected to focus on enhancing bilateral economic cooperation.
In his speech during a banquet at the State Palace hosted by President Soeharto, Prince Ranariddh acknowledged Indonesia's major role in the long process towards peace in Cambodia and the first general election last year.
Indonesia hosted a series of preliminary meetings in the late 1980s between the various warring Cambodian factions before they went to Paris to sign the peace agreement in 1991.
Cambodia would like Indonesia to continue "to assume its responsibilities vis-a-vis the Cambodian nation," said Prince Ranariddh, the son of King Sihanouk.
He acknowledged that the Cambodian government continues to face insurgency from the Khmer Rouge in violation of the UN- sponsored peace agreement, but stressed that assistance from the international community, including Indonesia, in lifting the standard of living of his people would go a long way toward resolving the problem. "We strongly believe that such measures will put an end rapidly and definitely to the Khmer Rouge insurgency."
President Soeharto in his speech gave assurances that Indonesia will continue to help the reconstruction effort in Cambodia, stressing that Cambodian stability is vital for Southeast Asia.
Soeharto said that he feels the United Nations should maintain an active role in Cambodia in the efforts towards reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
"But, no matter how big is the commitment of the international community to the peace and development of Cambodia, it is the Cambodian people who should decide its own fate and future."
Soeharto also explained that the Cambodian leaders must now work to strengthen their nation's unity, which is a prerequisite to maintaining sovereignty and ensuring development.
He cited Indonesia's long struggle to establish and then maintain national unity as an example for Cambodia to emulate.
This is the first time that Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen have visited Indonesia in friendship. The two men came to Indonesia several times as foes in the 1980s during peace negotiations. In Cambodian state protocol, Prince Ranariddh is now the first prime minister and Hun Sen is the second prime minister.
Ranariddh did most of the talking yesterday at a brief courtesy call on Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace shortly after their arrival.
Unaccustomed to hosting two premiers, the protocol at the state palace yesterday provided only one garland of flowers, which was presented to Prince Ranariddh.
Formal talks between Soeharto and his two guests are scheduled for today. Parallel talks will be held between various ministers of the two governments. The Cambodian entourage includes minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries Kong Som Ol, trade minister Var Houth, education, youth and sports minister Ung Hout and industry minister Pou Sothirak.
The Cambodian government in Phnom Penh yesterday said the delegation is expected to discuss the political, economic and security situations in Cambodia and seek to encourage Indonesian firms to invest in Cambodia, AFP reported.
"Indonesia also has good experience in attracting foreign investors, we need to learn from them," Information Minister Ieng Mouly said.
The government will also seek military assistance and ask for Indonesian help to train the Cambodian army. "We need all kinds of assistance, training and weaponry. We need to study how much Indonesia can help us," Defense Minister Tea Banh said. (emb)