kang
01 September 2009
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Japan’s opposition party recently won the election with a mandate to lead the country. This change leads to diverging comments from Cambodian politicians, in particular regarding the bilateral relationship between Japan and Cambodia, because Japan is the largest donor country to Cambodia.
Up until now, Japan is the largest donor country to Cambodia. Will the new Japanese government affect the bilateral relationships between Cambodia and Japan or not?
The Cambodian government believes that there will be no effect on the bilateral relationships between the two countries, but for Cambodia’s opposition parties, the new Japanese government will pay closer attention to aids provided to Cambodia.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, indicated that the relationship between Japan and Cambodia is a relationship at a governmental level, i.e. not a relationship at a party level. Khieu Kanharith added that: “Furthermore, PM Hun Xen maintain relationships with all political parties. Therefore, Cambodia hopes that there will be no change in regards to the bilateral relationships, and neither will there be any change in the aids that the Japanese government pledged to Cambodia.”
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that Japan has a history of helping to bring peace in Cambodia since 1993. Also, Japan is an ASEAN partner and it is a close partner of Cambodia as well. Therefore, he believes that the relationships between the two countries will not be reduced. Koy Kuong explained that the political party change in the leading of the country is Japan’s internal issue. “However, the foreign policy of the new government will improve with other countries,” Koy Kuong added.
Cambodia’s opposition party believes that it is the opposite. Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, commented that he used to meet with MPs of the Democratic Party of Japan (the winner of Japan’s election), and they want to see a more efficient use of Japanese aids, in particular, they want to see Japanese aids benefiting Cambodian people directly and that they do not fall into the hands of corrupt officials. Yim Sovann presumed that, from now on, Japan will pay closer attention to its aids to Cambodia.
Kem Sokha, HRP party president, also made similar comments to Yim Sovann regarding the policy of the Democratic Party of Japan which recently won the election. The DPJ’s goal is to strengthen democracy and the respect of human rights. Regarding diplomatic relations, Kem Sokha did not want to say directly that there could be a reduction of relationship between the new Japanese government and the current ruling party of Cambodia. However, Kem Sokha noted that the DPJ does not maintain close relationships with the CPP, unlike the case of the former ruling Japanese party.
Up until now, Japan is the largest donor country to Cambodia. Will the new Japanese government affect the bilateral relationships between Cambodia and Japan or not?
The Cambodian government believes that there will be no effect on the bilateral relationships between the two countries, but for Cambodia’s opposition parties, the new Japanese government will pay closer attention to aids provided to Cambodia.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, indicated that the relationship between Japan and Cambodia is a relationship at a governmental level, i.e. not a relationship at a party level. Khieu Kanharith added that: “Furthermore, PM Hun Xen maintain relationships with all political parties. Therefore, Cambodia hopes that there will be no change in regards to the bilateral relationships, and neither will there be any change in the aids that the Japanese government pledged to Cambodia.”
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that Japan has a history of helping to bring peace in Cambodia since 1993. Also, Japan is an ASEAN partner and it is a close partner of Cambodia as well. Therefore, he believes that the relationships between the two countries will not be reduced. Koy Kuong explained that the political party change in the leading of the country is Japan’s internal issue. “However, the foreign policy of the new government will improve with other countries,” Koy Kuong added.
Cambodia’s opposition party believes that it is the opposite. Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, commented that he used to meet with MPs of the Democratic Party of Japan (the winner of Japan’s election), and they want to see a more efficient use of Japanese aids, in particular, they want to see Japanese aids benefiting Cambodian people directly and that they do not fall into the hands of corrupt officials. Yim Sovann presumed that, from now on, Japan will pay closer attention to its aids to Cambodia.
Kem Sokha, HRP party president, also made similar comments to Yim Sovann regarding the policy of the Democratic Party of Japan which recently won the election. The DPJ’s goal is to strengthen democracy and the respect of human rights. Regarding diplomatic relations, Kem Sokha did not want to say directly that there could be a reduction of relationship between the new Japanese government and the current ruling party of Cambodia. However, Kem Sokha noted that the DPJ does not maintain close relationships with the CPP, unlike the case of the former ruling Japanese party.
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