Keynote Address at the Official Inauguration of all Achievements related to Flood Protection and Drainage Improvement Phase II, Improvement Project in

Phnom Penh, September 16^th, 2010

- Your Venerable Samdech Preah Moha Somethea Tepdei NGUN NGET, Head of Monks,

- Your Venerable Monks,

- Your Excellency Masafumi Kuroki, Japan’s Ambassador to Cambodia,

- Mr. Yasujiro Suzuki, Director of JICA in Cambodia,

- Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen and all the compatriots,

Today it is my privilege and pleasure to be here to inaugurate all achievements of the Stage II Flood Protection and Sewage System Improvement Project in Phnom Penh which is one of many grants provided by the Government of Japan. I would like to congratulate Venerable Samdech Preah Somethea Thepdei, Venerable Monks, Excellencies, Oknhas, ladies and gentlemen and especially Phnom Penh residents who will enjoy the enormous benefit from what being inaugurated today.

Along with this, I would like to convey my profound thanks, through Excellency Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki and Mr. Yasujiro Suzuki, to the people and Government of Japan for providing grants to restore and build Phnom Penh Municipality. Along with this, I would like to praise the Municipality of Phnom Penh and all related institutions for the concerted effort that results in what we see today.

According to Excellency Kep Chuk Tema, the governor of Phnom Penh, stage one flood protection and sewage upgrade project was successfully implemented and inaugurated on September 29, 2004. The first stage of the project has rescued the southern and southwestern part of Phnom Penh including a part of Khan Odor Meanchey, Chamkamorn, and Toulkork from the possible threat of flooding of the Mekong river system and helped reduce the flood level of the rainy season. Today, we are inaugurating new achievements of the second Stage of the Project i.e. flood protection and sewage system improvement in Phnom Penh Municipality under the grant of the Japanese government, which took place since 17th September 2007, with a value of approximately 2,182,307,000 Japanese Yen, equivalent to around 19,022,900 US Dollars. Under this project we have repaired the 70-meter long Tonle Sap River bank in front of Chaktomuk Conference Hall and the 260-meter long river bank between road No. 106 and road No. 130. Moreover, with the grant we also upgraded the sewage capacity of Central and Kandal Market, Royal Palace, National Museum, Wat Phnom, constructed water pumping station and underground reservoir at Psar Chas and Kandal Market, Preah Komlung and Chaktomuk, and have laid out drainage pipe along key boulevards, riverside and Sisowat Boulevard. Through this, I would like to support the request for implementing Stage III of the project to reduce flood level in Beung Tra Bek area of the Southern part of Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh city has undergone history of sweetness and bitterness including misery and happiness, once a ghost city now turned into a paradise that is lively, fresh, secured and safe. Phnom Penh used to be the city that was formed and abandoned, then reselected as the capital city, between Preahbat Punheayat era from 1435 to 1865 after then there was no more relocation. Specifically, from 1435 to 1497, the Royal Palace was situated in Phnom Penh, then moved to Angkor city, then from Angkor city to Pusat, from Pusat to Boribo, from Boribo to Udong, and eventually moved back to Phnom Penh in 1865. Phnom Penh city used to be deemed as the Pearl of Asia and has made a lot progress in term economic and social development. Phnom Penh is situated on the intersection of the Mekong River and Basac River resides by about 2 million people and possesses huge development potential and is the key source of economic growth. Indeed, Cambodians and foreigners can clearly witness Cambodian development when they come to visit Phnom Penh. The surge in new buildings, vehicles, and various goods reveal the improvement and progress of Cambodia’s society, economic, culture and art to become a modern society in the modern world. In this regard, at present as well as in the future we have to continue working together to develop the capital so that it will become a pivotal source for economic growth and represent the sophistication of the Cambodia’s society in modern time.

Truly, Phnom Penh capital city is a center that has a great potential for the development of the country, and has a very important role to play for supporting economic growth if it has been continuously and sustainably revived, built and developed. Nowadays although Phnom Penh capital city has already made many achievements we still observe that there are many other tasks that we need to continue our efforts to revive, build and develop. The priority areas include traffic jams, residential planning, environmental protection, flood protection and sewage system renovation. Floods and environmental pollution in Phnom Penh are caused by nature as well human activities; and that requires planning for flood protection and sewage system renovation, as well as the understanding and caution about natural phenomena and active participation of citizens in reviving, building and developing Phnom Penh capital.

I understand that we have to be highly attentive on all these issues as floods and sewage system can negatively impact the beauty of the city, environment, hygiene and living quality of our people. Based on my observations, most Cambodian families, particularly the poor ones in Phnom Penh capital are living in new areas or areas that have no proper physical infrastructure especially the sewage system. As a result, the waste dumping in such areas causes flooding, contaminates the water, emits foul odor and becomes a source of diseases.

Moreover, I have also observed that even at places with proper sewage system, street flooding still takes place, especially when there are heavy rain. There are many reasons causing street flooding in Phnom Penh capital, such as heavy rain making some sewages unable to timely absorb the flood water; while some other sewages are filled with wastes clotting the water flow. Furthermore, waste dumping into the sewage system, the increasingly shallow sewages, and the lack of vehicles and equipment to pump water from sewages are also factors causing street flooding in the city. In this regard, I would like to request the Phnom Penh municipality to impose and implement necessary measures, to revive the sewage system, to provide vehicles and sewage water pumping equipment and widely educate people to effectively participate in flood protection in the city.

In partticular, we have to also pay further attention to the damage of the river bank to prevent the water from flooding Phnom Penh capital city because it will not only cause the flood but also cast negative impact on the production, supply, consumption of goods and services, and the settlement of people, who live around the river bank. Having river bank made of cement is our desire in order to prevent the flood in various important areas that can receive the threat of river bank collapse and flooding. In this connection, we cannot repair or build the river bank in all parts of the riversides, especially in rural area due to the fact that the flood prevention system would need much finance which is more than the cost of spending to pay for the prevention of flood itself.

The risk and challenge for Phnom Penh city truly require the Royal Government of Cambodia to continue taking measures and prevention with the participation from all related ministries/institutions and our people. The Royal Government has clearly stated that Phnom Penh City Hall is the main player to rebuild and develop Phnom Penh city. Taking this opportunity, I would like to suggest the Phnom Penh City Hall to continue studying in details the flood prevention project and improving the sewage system in Phnom Penh-Phase 3 with highly effective implementation and responsibility. At the same time, the City Hall, Ministry of Information and all relevant ministries/institutions have to highly pay attention to the dissemination, education of people to participate in preventing flood and repairing canals/sewage systems, pipe, especially throwing waste improperly.

The new achievement that we will inaugurate soon is our national achievement which is resulted from the right consideration made by the Royal Government of Cambodia with the efforts of other relevant ministries/institutions, Phnom Penh City Hall, the Government of Japan and all stakeholders. Once Again, I would like to congratulate and highly appreciate the Phnom Penh City Hall and all private companies that have put greatest efforts in renovating and building various achievements, witnessed today. At the same time, I would like to deeply thank the people and Government of Japan for having always assisted Cambodia in rebuilding the country. Along with that, I would like to appeal to all compatriots and all levels of competent authorities to fully participate and cooperation in order to sustainably maintain this achievement for the common interest of our people as well as for the historical legacy of our nation.

At the end, together with the inauguration of achievements of the flood prevention projects and the improvement of sewage system/drainage in the capital city of Phnom Penh-Phase 2, which is the grant from Japan, May I wish the Venerable Monks, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen and all Compatriots the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength.

Address at the 2010 AsiaLink Conversations - Cambodia

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure and honor to address the opening of this “2010 Asialink Conversations-Cambodia”. Taking this opportunity, I would like to warmly thank Asialink at the University of Melbourne,especially Mr. Sid Myer, its Chairman, for organizing this event in Cambodia, in partnership with CDRI, Cambodia’s leading independent development policy institute.

Since its establishment in 2002, The Asialink Conversations has made a significant contribution to ‘second track’ regional policy dialogue, linking Asia with Australia, and prompting better understanding among people and countries in our region. I believe this communication connectivity helps to improve state-to-state and people-to people relations between Australia and Asia, enabling us to promote mutual understanding and information sharing and expand our political, security, economic, social and cultural cooperation.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of Cambodian people and myself, I would like to express our deep gratitude for the role that Australia played in Cambodia’s economic development and in the Cambodian peace process which led to the successful conclusion of the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodian Conflict on October 23, 1991. This enabled Cambodia to organize a free and fair election in 1993, form the Royal Government of Cambodia, achieve national unity and reconciliation; paving the ways for peace and stability, democratization, economic development and institutional reform.

In the context I would like to extend a particularly heartfelt welcome back to Cambodia to The Honourable Professor Gareth Evans, Chancellor of the Australian National University & Former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, for his personal role and great contribution to Cambodia’s national reconciliation and reconstruction. I would also like to warmly congratulate him on his recent award of the prestigious Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Medal in recognition of his tireless efforts over many years in the cause of peace, social justice and international governance, and in his acceptance speech his generous acknowledgement of the role that contact with Cambodia and young Cambodians played in his commitment to that cause.

Cambodia: Two decades of nation building

Even after the general elections of 1993 following the peace agreement, unrest continued. The prerequisites for any serious development had yet to be established. However, the rudiments of a market economy were established during this period. Cambodia was firmly put on the path of rehabilitation. The Cambodian economy was growing 6.3% per annum during 1994-1998. Only the “win-win” policy of national reconciliation that I initiated and implemented in 1997 finally ended the Khmer Rouge regime and the remaining Khmer Rouge political and military forces were integrated into the mainstream of the Cambodian society.

Since 1998, with the return of full peace, a sense of confidence and pride pervades the country, a feeling that bodes well for bright prospects for economic growth and job creation and a concrete vision of a promising future. We have successfully implemented the triangular strategy, focusing on strengthening peace and security, integrating Cambodia into the region and the world, and promoting reforms and development. Cambodia joined ASEAN in April 1999. The Royal Government of Cambodia has embarked on wide-ranging reforms focusing on macroeconomic management, public financial management and financial sector reforms, and rehabilitation and reconstruction of physical infrastructures, especially the national road network. Since then, the Cambodian economy has undergone a dramatic and rapid transformation. Economic growth during 1999-2003 averaged 8.8%. Although ODA continued to finance growth, FDI particularly investments in garment and tourism, was key to promoting growth.

The economic take-off phase started from 2004. Considerable efforts have been made by the RGC to implement the second generation reforms in all sectors as envisaged in the Rectangular Strategy, in particular the implementation of the Public Financial Management (PFM) reform program and continued investment in provincial and rural roads. Economic growth during 2004-2008 averaged 10.3%. For the first time Cambodia achieved sustained double-digit growth, financed mainly by the rapidly growing banking sector, FDI inflows and the ODA. Cambodia was the first Least Developed Country to join the World Trade Organization in October 2004.

Cambodia can be considered as a successful post-conflict country. With the support of our development partners and the private sector, Cambodia has made giant strides in development in the last decade. Since 1993 Cambodia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased fourfold from US$2.4 billion in 1993 to US$10.3 billion in 2008. During this period per capita income has more than tripled from US$229 to US$739. Poverty rate was reduced from around 50% in 1993 to 30% in 2007, then to 27.4% in 2009. The structural reforms were undertaken to allow the Cambodian people to live in a modern civilized society. These reforms are necessary so that Cambodian society can face the future confidently.

However, with each stage of development accomplished, new challenges arise. Cambodia’s economic performance has been affected in 2009 by the global financial crisis. The RGC has successfully guided the economy, like other Asian economies, through the most difficult period of the global crisis. The RGC has acted swiftly to counter the social impact of falling incomes and employment from declining garment exports, tourism and construction pursuant to the crisis. Cambodia has managed to maintain the stability of the financial sector as well as macro-economic and social stability, especially the normalcy of the people’s livelihoods.

With the implementation during the last 5 years of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Program, government revenue more than doubled from 2,220 billion riels (US$ 553 million) in 2004 to 4,928 billion riels (US$1,2 billion) in 2009. The expenditure tripled from 3043 billion riels (US$758 million) to 8,539 billion riels (US$2 billion). At the same time, we have accumulated more than US$700 million in cash reserves in government deposits. During the crisis, we used this money to implement our stimulus package, without resorting to borrowing, in order to maintain macro-economic stability. The Gross Domestic Product experienced a positive growth in 2009, though very small, as agriculture and services sector maintained robust growth. Economic growth in 2010 is estimated to be 5%. Next year the economy is expected to grow 6.5%.

The Global Financial Crisis: Changing regional and global architecture

Even though Asia’s financial institutions have limited direct exposure to the US sub-prime mortgages and East Asian countries have strong external positions, Asia was hit by the Global Financial Crisis because of the collapse of international trade and capital flows. On top of this, domestic demand in the region also deteriorated. But Asian policy makers have been proactive in managing the global crisis. Australia has also engaged with a strong degree with the region on the global financial crisis.

Although the global recovery remains fragile, we expect growth in Asia excluding Japan in 2010 to be around 7 percent. Strong economic performance in Asia is predominantly led by the high positive economic growth of China and India, and the robust recovery in South Korea. Asia’s remarkable recovery reflected a decoupling from the United States and Europe. The main factors contributed to Asia’s rebound include global trade normalization, especially in the global IT recovery, monetary easing, currency flexibility, sound balance sheets of its private sector and large fiscal stimulus.

The Global Financial Crisis has had far-reaching impact on the region and the world, with the rise of economic powerhouse of China, which has become the world second largest economy, and the changing global architecture, which will have geo-political implications for our region. However, Japan continues to play an important role in the global economy, especially in the hi-tech sector. In this regard, I would like to welcome “the New Growth Strategy Blue Print for Revitalizing Japan” adopted by the Government of Japan under Prime Minister, Mr. Kan, on 18^th June 2010.

Consequently, the global financial crisis has had the effect on the traditional global economic architecture G8 with the rise of the G20 as the key global forum to tackle the global recession and rebalance global growth in the post-crisis environment. The Global Financial Crisis has spawned G20 Leaders process, also thanks to the efforts of Australia. The G20 has coordinated stimulus measures combined with commitments to reform the global financial architecture, address longer term economic challenges and the future growth and rebalancing challenge facing the global economy, including the response to climate change.

At the regional level, after the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998, ASEAN+3 countries embarked on bank restructuring and structural reforms, which contribute to strong economic growth and financial stability. We have embarked on building regional financial safety nets by establishing the bilateral SWAP arrangement to the amount of US$77 billion under the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI). Furthermore, the regional surveillance mechanism in the form of Economic Review and Policy Dialogue (ERPD) has played an important role in maintaining the financial stability in the region. In response to the Global Financial Crisis, ASEAN+3 decided to launch the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) and increase the size of the SWAP arrangements to US$120 billion. The Chiang Mai Initiative would be further strengthened if Australia were to also be part of these regional financial safety nets.

Security Cooperation in East Asia

At the security level, the region is wrestling with fighting terrorism and here too Australia is a major player along with the United States. Cambodia has greatly benefitted from capacity training in counter-terrorism that Australia, the United States and some regional countries that have provided us during the past years. Moreover, Cambodia has embarked on the training of peace-keeping forces, making humble contribution to regional and world peace.

The ASEAN Regional Forum has now evolved into the region's premier security forum. We looking forward to the first Defence Minister Meeting scheduled in October 2010 in Hanoi. As a founding member of the ARF, Australia can play a positive role to ensure healthy political, economic and strategic balance between China and the US in our region. The ARF mechanism also ensures that ASEAN plays a central role in maintaining peace and security in the region, and therefore will be the cornerstone of the ASEAN Security Community. The ARF is making progress on three fronts, namely confidence-building, preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution. However, in light of the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, more needs to be done to strengthen ASEAN conflict resolution mechanism based on international law, as envisaged by the ASEAN Charter. The Cambodian-Thai crisis is the litmus test for ASEAN’s credibility and centrality, as we aspire to build the ASEAN Community in 2015.

Cambodia is committed to the regime of nuclear non-proliferation and welcomes efforts exerted to re-launch the six party talks. Peace and stability on the Korean peninsula are critical for the prosperity of East Asia. In this regard, the RCG strongly condemns the sinking of the South Korean ship Cheonan which led to the loss of 46 lives.

ASEAN-Australia in a wider East Asian Regionalism

For decades, we have seen that Australia’s foreign policy has placed a high priority on the Asia-Pacific and the forging of strong economic, strategic and political ties with Asian countries and cooperation frameworks, namely ASEAN Dialogue Partner, ARF, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East-Asian Summit (EAS). Cambodia has also welcomed the constructive recent debate on our future regional architecture stimulated by the concepts of an Asia-Pacific Community (APC) proposed by Australia, and Japan’s initiative of establishing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) by 2020 under the APEC framework, while still recognizing the need for ASEAN’s traditional central role and contribution to the many structures of cooperation existing today in East Asia.

We have witnessed that East Asia is loaded with increasing responsibility for leading the sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy. In this regard, the strengthening and deepening of integration in East Asia is indispensible. Presently, the EAS is the newest of the regional architecture but a very important framework, given that its 16 members, including Australia, present almost half of the world’s population and account for almost 30 percent of global GDP. Thus, in addition to the regional processes namely APEC, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN+1 and ASEAN+3, the expansion of East Asia Summit should be a gateway for ASEAN to engage ASEAN’s dialogue partners whose have substantive relations with ASEAN.

There are many reasons why ASEAN and Australia must work closely together and advance together. During the past years, ASEAN’s trade, investment, education and tourism connections to Australiacontinue to grow substantially. Moreover, ASEAN stands to benefit from relationship with Australia under the EAS framework. Among the five priority areas under EAS namely, finance, energy, education, combating avian influenza and natural disaster mitigation, Australia has given a key priority to enhance regional financial cooperation in the EAS.

We have witnessed that ASEAN’s total merchandise trade on goods with Australia-New Zealand rose by 23.6 percent from US$47.8 billion in 2007 to US$ 59.0 billion in 2008. ASEAN exports and imports to and from Australia-New Zealand both registered significant growth. ASEAN exports grew by 22.1% from US$ 31 billion in 2007 to US$ 37 billion in 2008; while ASEAN import rose by 26.2 % increasing from US$ 16.8 billion in 2007 to US$ 21.2 billion in 2008.

Medium-term challenge for ASEAN is, however, to promote domestic sources of growth and diversify regional cooperation to maintain sustained high-growth rate in a post-crisis environment. This requires stronger push and sooner completion of cooperation and regional economic integration process in accordance with initiatives and action plans that we have adopted, such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA), the ASEAN-China FTA, as well as the East Asian Free Trade Area (EAFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA) in the long run.

Thus, we should speed up the implementation of the AANZFTA since it entered into force since 1 January 2010 as the first comprehensive FTA between ASEAN and a Dialogue Partners that was concluded in a single undertaking, covering key sectors such as trade in goods, services, investment, electronic commerce and intellectual property. I believe the AANZFTA will not just promote trade and growth but also create a building block for the establishment of the EAFTA and CEPEA, leading to East Asian integration in the long run.

Nevertheless, we should avoid overlapping efforts and resources in EAFTA and CEPEA. East Asia’s economic architecture should progress gradually and in phases, starting from trade in goods, reflecting ASEAN’s centrality. Discussion will commence on the Rules of Origin, tariff nomenclature, customs related issues and economic cooperation as building-blocks in the process of realising East Asia integration. Four working groups will be established to study the recommendations for both free trade arrangements. During the consolidation of the recommendations for EAFTA and CEPEA, the Plus One, Plus Tree and Plus Six countries will be invited to join the discussion on how to move forward together to the East Asian Free Trade Area. Cambodia appreciates Australia’s initiative to facilitate effective and full participation of LDCs in the discussion and to develop capacity and increase resources of the ASEAN Secretariat.

Therefore, ASEAN integration should be a priority and key to East Asian integration in the long run. In this regard, Cambodia is committed to have the agreement ratified within this year in order to promote trade and investment in our region to the next level. Cambodia has much to gain from CEPEA, as it will help us solve the problem of monitoring the rules of origin and narrowing development gaps. CEPEA will help less developed ASEAN countries to use imported raw materials from China to process and export to more developed countries, such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Korea.

Yet, narrowing development gap among the regional members is necessary to materialize regional competitiveness and resilience. This requires us to reinvigorate domestic demand, and boosting intra-regional trade through structural reforms aimed at return for investments in domestically oriented sectors and removing impediments and bottlenecks domestic spending.

Closing these gaps will require a lot of resources. The ADB estimates that Asia Pacific countries need to invest about USD 8 trillion dollars over the next decade. Such investment would not only boost productive potential but would also help in the fight against poverty, by improving access to basic services such as electricity and clean water. It is important therefore that implementation of Greater Mekong Sub-region Program and the Initiatives for ASEAN Integration (IAI) be strongly supported by development partners and members of the regional community alike.

To this end, the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) program is crucial to resolving the imbalances among the regional economies. The ADB Strategic Thrust of the GMS has enabled linkages and connectivity of the GMS countries among themselves. Lao DPR is no longer ‘land locked’ but ‘land linked’, owning to GMS Transport Corridors. Tremendous progress has been achieved in connecting the GMS countries with each other. Trade and Transport Facilitation (TTF) measures have been implemented, and the GMS is poised to transform the transport corridors into Economic Corridors. As a result, the GMS countries are ready to enter a second generation reform which essentially increasing investment on soft aspect of development such as greater financing on human resource development, increasing institutional competency and training; and cross border market management.

Development partners (Australia, EU and Japan) all expressed continuing commitment in assisting the GMS Cross Border Trade Agreement (CBTA). Financial and technical supports are available for the Trade and Transport Facilitation action Plan. Australia’s AusAID made available USD 230 million dollars for hardware and software assistance. USD 170 million is made available for road and energy sector development. The EU will provide expertise and TA through the ASEAN-GMS framework; and Japan will made available USD 3 million dollars for human resource development of three projects.

In this regard, I would like to welcome the recent plan made by the GMS Ministers in Vietnam to connect regional rail lines under the GMS cooperation. This will allow the Singapore-Kunming rail link to be materialized by 2020. I also would like to welcome the US-Mekong meeting that was initiated by the Obama administration. At the same time, Japan’s support for the CLV cooperation is very much appreciated.

Australia assistance and participation in second-generation reform in the CLMV countries is also much sought to create a healthy, stable and prosperous region that in turn provides Australia with the opportunities to invest in ASEAN and working together for a dynamic business environment for trade and investment for the long term. The ASEAN-Australia Cooperation Framework has enabled Australia to benefits from ASEAN liberalized economic, political, security, cultural; and social-health policies cooperation, sharing information on intelligence, and cooperating in anti-terrorism measures, as well as combating non-traditional security threats help to stabilize regional security.

Cambodia must not only overcome impediments to growth through the reform process, but must also create the conditions for sustainable growth through equitable distribution of costs and benefits of development. For a start business costs, costs that weigh upon employment will be further reduced. We must map out a clear strategy and implement it in order to enhance its attractiveness as an investment destination.

Regional Cooperation in the Protection of Cultural Heritage

I am particularly please that The 2010 Asialink Conversations - Cambodia will include discussion of cultural heritage and its protection in our region. For Cambodia, regional cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage is not new. Given our rich history, for us cultural heritage is fundamental to our national identity, our cultural identity, and an emerging regional identity. It defines who we are and the value we bring to each other. Since the 1990s, Australia has provided valuable assistance to the National Museum in Phnom Penh in the area of cultural heritage preservation. The Museum houses a large collection of ancient Khmer archaeological and religious artifacts, including art and sculpture, from the 4th to the 13^th centuries.

The Greater Angkor Project (GAP), an international, multidisciplinary research program of the Sydney University interested in the study of urbanism history at Angkor. Specifically, the project is investigating the relationship between the vast extent of Angkor in the 12th to 16th centuries AD, land clearance for rice production and regional ecological damage both then and now. The project will identify (i) the ancestry of Angkor’s social and spatial organisation in the first millennium BCE, (ii) the way the urban complex operated to diagnose (iii) why, when and how it was abandoned and reveal the transformations from the 16th to 19th centuries that created the modern landscape out of 3000 years of cultural continuity.

At the regional level, I urge Australia to deepen its cooperation for cultural and heritage protection through the ASEAN-Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) Framework. AusHeritage has been very supportive in ASEAN Cultural and Heritage protection program; and I trust AusHeritage will continue to support the Working Plan for the ASEAN-COCI, specifically its Strategic Framework for Cultural Heritage Management: Preserving the Past for The Future.

In conclusion, much has been said and more needs to be done. I hope The Asialink Conversations Cambodia will enlighten our understanding on the future directions of the relations between Australia and Asia, and the future shape of our region, and ways we can work even more effectively together for the peace, security and prosperity of our region and the wellbeing of our peoples. I trust the discussions that are taking place here today will be fruitful, and although informal, will generate useful policy recommendations for our consideration. I wish you all successful a Forum.

Selected comments at the graduation and diploma presentation ceremony of the Human Resources University

01 September 2010

From Non-Governmental Organization to University

It is a great pleasure that I have the opportunity to preside over, which is my eighth time, the graduation and present 1,459 graduates of the Human Resources University with diplomas. I did the same in February last year. I also would like to take this opportunity to seek an excuse as my wife, because one of our daughters is in labor, could not make it here today. However, I am here and have the joy to witness developments and achievements that the Human Resources University scored in transforming itself from a none-governmental organization to a University.

I used to say that it is difficult to get something started and it is even more so to sustain it. What I should recall is that the University has in fact grown from a small flat into this big a building. I would like to take this opportune moment to give my appreciation and appreciation for the efforts made by the leadership as well as the governing board of the University as well as the President of the organization in providing training opportunities which have indeed contributed to national human resource development as a whole.

I also thank the University for providing scholarships for poor students, either through me personally or through HE Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng. It is worth making a remark here that the University also has provided scholarship or free tuition and lodging for some students through the assistances by HE Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, I and other officials. Personally I provide the University with two tons of rice and two million Riel per month. Again, this is an art of sharing hardship with the University in the course of helping provide education and related conditions to our youth with limited resource ability. Out of this gesture, the University has in return produced human resources for our society.

Scholarships for Red Cross Youth Activists

On behalf of my wife I would also like to express our satisfaction for the Red Cross Youth of the University. My wife, after her endeavors to put four professional training centers into sustainable operations - at Ang Snuol, Kraing Jek, Pursat and Preah Vihear – with a special focus on helping women pursue skills in clothes making, weaving, beauty making, hair dressing, etc., has in fact stepped into a new challenge, which is to establish and ensure a smooth operation of the Red Cross Youth, in which students from this University and other Universities have also engaged.

Days ago, my wife came to propose if some of the scholarships that are being given to me for the students with limited resource ability to continue their studies could be provided to those students who have engaged in the Red Cross missions. I am sure there also has demand for scholarship for the scout as well.

Study – a Continuing Process

I would like to take this opportunity to share my joy with graduates of all levels here for making another stage of educational achievements and I am sure that you will make efforts for further education. I have said many times that study is in fact a continuing process. We have to learn all of the time. Making no effort in learning, one may fall into a state of conservatism, which is in fact a frightful situation and also a hindrance to all sorts of growth and developments.

It is in this thought that no matter how senior or junior an official may be, one has to have a learning process. I may take up an example for you about how conservatism could be harmful to our nation. In the course of developing our city, some people have said that we should not have skyscrapers but between four and six storey buildings. I would suggest that we should not be so conservative. I have a project for a skyscraper, which is to be implemented by a private company. I will soon forward it to HE Im Chhun Lim (Senior Minister for Urban Planning, Land Management and Construction) for further study.

The building will be 555 meters, which is lower than the one (they just built) in Dubai, and the highest in Asia. Oknha (a rank given to individual in respect for their personal contribution to the nation) Pong Khieu Se has planned for it to be built on Koh Pich (Diamond Island – a piece of island-like land between the rivers of Mekong and Bassac before the capital city of Phnom Penh). I approve it. At this height one can look toward Tonle Sap Lake. I have just touched on a form of conservatism but there are more, such as in working manner. While we are against conservatism, we also are cautious of not being too extreme as well. I may say we are against a tendency of being either too extreme to the right or to the left.

The Cambodian Peace Making Process Will be CPP Aide Memoire

Some people have come to me and preached about following so and so model at the time when Cambodia was coming out empty-handed from the genocide in 1979. How Cambodia could follow the US or French models, since we do not eat same food. This is not to include here different cultures that we have. This is what I wanted to say about extremism.

I have been worried about how to get a compilation of backgrounds and initiatives for the Cambodian political settlement, the endeavor to put an end to war and restore full peace. This will be the Cambodian People’s Party Aide Memoire about my undertaking in search for peace. It is a great relief that, without making it known to anyone, Mr. Keo Ba Phnom has compiled it and I hope that HE Ieng Mouly has got a copy of it too. In all the records, some of them have slipped my mind. Take for instance this thing about a former Palestinian Ambassador to North Korea who had contacted and drafted a framework for the first negotiation between Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and me.

The compilation has in all been a 775 page document, but I have some more to add to it because some developments are mysterious and not known to outsiders. We have audio tapes which are now kept and preserved at the (Cambodian People’s) Party Research and Documentation Commission. The document contains anything from my evaluation of political and military situations to political settlement negotiations at Fere-en-Tardenois and Saint Germain-en-Laye of France in the Party’s Congress. In one instance, there is this piece of audio of my presentation of real nature of (the) Cambodian (problem) at Fere-en-Tardenois to Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, in which I stressed on two specific aspects of the Cambodian problem – the Lon Nol’s coup against Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and the genocide by the regime of Pol Pot.

Since HE Ieng Mouly is in the process of writing a book, he should get a copy of the document from my Cabinet as a reference to his research. Anyone who might find it of interest may contact my Cabinet, but remember that it is not a history of the Party and it is not for public access too. I have planned for some 100 more copies to be printed for a restricted circulation.

Cambodian-Thai Relations - Restoring Ambassadorial Level

Please allow me to take up this forum today to make a few comments and remarks in relation to new development in the Cambodian-Thai relations, especially from August 22 and 23 to the present. Since there have been some developments already now I report to our people about a situation that is requiring a more thorough analysis and appropriate solution. Firstly, let me talk about the restoring of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level, which happened coincidently with HE Thaksin Shinawatra’s resignation from his post as my personal advisor and advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia on economics.

I would say that to have or to have no ambassadors is making no difference since it is only outward development but not nature of the problem. The problem in the Cambodian-Thai relations is not Thaksin but that Thai troops invaded and occupied the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Buddhist temple and its vicinity on July 15, 2008, and up to the present moment, they have not withdrawn all of their troops from the area. Therefore, it is important to clarify the real nature of animosity in the Cambodian-Thai relations. Since they have blamed the problem on Thaksin (position as advisor to Cambodia) as the root cause, now that Thaksin relieved himself from duty, why the problem between Cambodia and Thailand has yet to be resolved? This proves that Thaksin is not the causing factor but the Thai invasion is.

The restoring of ambassadorial level has affirmed that the problem between Cambodia and Thailand is not Thaksin and Bangkok could no longer use Thaksin as a pretext. I also approve the move with pleasure as ambassadors of the two countries have resumed their posts about twelve hours apart. Resumption of contact of this level has resulted in a good atmosphere on which confidence could be built so that other problems would be solved eventually. Two neighboring countries are like teeth and tongue. They could be in accident any time, while pulling out teeth or cutting off tongue would not be a solution.

I approve also exchange of visits by different sectors and expansion of tourism, trade and investment. They are encouraged to go on as I have mapped out a framework already that Cambodia is seeking to relieve conflict and expand possibility for resolution. However, I could not be happy and satisfied until Thai troops are withdrawn from my territory.

Opposition Parties - Spokesperson for Foreign Countries

Some people and press in Thailand have made up that Hun Sen had a dispute with Thaksin, while months ago they accused that Thaksin and Hun Sen colluded, whereby Thai interest was sold to Cambodia. It is the first time in history that Hun Sen is seen to have land sold to him by a neighboring country through Thaksin. Or would that mean Cambodia invaded other country? It is ridiculous here that the Cambodian oppositions have always blamed Hun Sen for selling land to neighboring countries. Funnily enough, when Thaksin resigned from his position, they opted to say that the both of us are in dispute. How could that happen since both of us are living a world apart?

In fact, HE Thaksin wrote me a letter on August 22, for which on August 23 we accepted his proposal. On August 24, I wrote a letter to HE Thaksin to confirm that Cambodia is approving his resignation, thanking and affirming to him that though he is no longer my advisor but he is still my good friend and no one could stop Hun Sen from being friend with Thaksin at all. It should be seen that Thaksin has proven to be a responsible, being unable to perform fully his advisor duty, he asked to be relieved from the job.

I would like to make it clear to certain circles that Thaksin is by no means an item of goods for political and/or diplomatic exchange. Let’s be clear on this. Hun Sen would not trade his virtue to do such thing that would turn a former Prime Minister, who is so dignified and popular that he won over two-third majority of votes in Thailand, into an item of goods for diplomatic end between Cambodia and Thailand at all.

Also importantly, politicians in Bangkok also should not be foolish to say that Hun Sen acts in line with demand from Bangkok. Any understanding along this trend is by far below standard judgment. They should stop preaching for their gain from the situation when Hun Sen is still silent. We have led our country from fragmentation to unification and to gaining popular support of over two-third majority. In light of this they should not be misleading in their analysis and giving wrong sign.

Troops Adjustment, Patience and Peaceful Solution

What remains to be done is to adjust the troops, while exercising further patience and resolving problem by peaceful means. However, while Cambodia continues to be patient and seeks for peaceful solution to the problem, some people in the extreme circles of Thailand have sought for military solution since they have claimed to use force to evict our people from the so called 4.6 square kilometers within 24 hours. Some have urged bombardment of Cambodian roads. I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to the Thai Government for farsighted consideration and refraining from acting in accordance with their instigation.

I am so happy to see that the armies have maintained good relations. I also welcome the visit to Angkor Wat recently by the Thai army. I used to raise with Thai leaders the need for them to pull out the ten soldiers at the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Buddhist monastery and another 20 (30 from each side) in area around it. For one reason they are exposing themselves to mosquito attack and for other they could be igniting war. Since they came to the place without prior approval of the Parliament, while returning, I think there needs no approval too.

I surely understand the handicap that Thai Government is facing in this matter but I also cannot keep waiting. The case of border conflicts between Thailand and Laos, now 22 years after it broke out in 1988, between Thailand and Myanmar in almost 30 years now according to what I learnt from Myanmar Prime Minister whom I met in Nanning, China, have not been solved yet. So it is not a good thing for Thailand to keep it another twenty or thirty years without solution. Now let’s adjust the troop and this is how far we could go. We may consider resuming the border pass at Preah Vihear for tourists and also opening a new pass at Ta Thao.

Thai Parliamentary Approval – Should Not Be Too Long

How to go about solving the problem then? It is easy. The problem would resolve itself when the Thai troops that have invaded our territory go back. Three agreements of meetings – the 28-July-2008 meeting between (Thai) Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and (Cambodian) Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, the 19-August-2008 meeting between Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, and the 12-November-2008 meeting between (Thai) Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat and DPM Hor Namhong - are waiting to be approved by the Thai parliament.

The contents therein are no different – firstly, there needs to be troop adjustment out of Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Buddhist monastery and the temple vicinity; secondly, there needs to establish a provisional coordination working group to oversee the troop adjustment from the Buddhist monastery and the temple vicinity; and thirdly, there is going to be a joint de-mining operation of area where the Joint Border Commission (JBC) will have to work on demarcation.

I completely understand the Thai Government’s difficulty as before putting into action, they have to have approval from the Thai Parliament. However, we have been waiting for too long. I have promises from HE Suthep Thaugsuban (DPM of Thailand), HE Prawit Wongsuwan (Defense Minister of Thailand) and especially HE Chai Chidchob, Speaker of the Thai Parliament, even said to me the Parliament already approved them too.

I wish to make it clear our position that the Royal Thai Government has to get the Parliament ratify agreements of the above meetings and other related matters that includes also results of negotiation of the Border Committee. However, agreements of the three meetings of the foreign ministers must be first step, after which more steps can be taken. If this could be done, it is possible that the issue could be resolved bilaterally.

While this proposition has received no positive response (from the Thai side) Cambodia would seek a solution to the matter through intervention from the United Nations or ASEAN or other international mechanism without further delay in this matter. Cambodia has no rights to talk with Thailand on border issue. All Cambodia can do is to get a demarcation on border as stipulated by the Franco-Siamese 1904 Convention, 1907 Treaty and other related documents that were interpreted in the decision of the International Court in the Hague.

Preah Vihear Temple Court Procedures to Be Reprinted

I have instructed Deputy Prime Minister Sok An about reprinting thousands of copies of the court decision with regard to Preah Vihear temple. In addition to those that are available and to be reproduced in English and French, I have asked for speedy editing of the Khmer translation so that the reproduction would be in three languages in one. They will be circulated freely for the Cambodian people to study. We do not need to depend on any other sources for materials on the issue but the decision of the International Court in The Hague. Also included in the publication I recommend that we have the 2000 MOU (between the Royal Governments of Cambodia and Thailand) as well as technical documents on border demarcation. The publication is then to be given out for free to libraries for public use.

Again I wish to clarify that we, this Cambodian generation, have no rights to negotiate on the border issue other than respecting what is left by the decision of the International Court in The Hague, for which Cambodia and Thailand have to respect. We have no rights to amend it whatsoever. It is fortunate that besides Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, though His Majesty did not go the Court in person, who led this campaign, Cambodia has got another live witness, HE Chan Youran, who was then General Secretary of the Cambodian delegation, while others in the delegation have passed away.

All Cambodia gets to do - based on the above mentioned decisions and agreements - is to go for demarcation and demining jointly. Cambodia has no knowledge of where the 4.6 square kilometer is. It has been said by the Thais that Cambodia has invaded 4.6 square kilometers o its territory. In light of this I urge Thailand to sue Cambodia to the United Nations Security Council or General Assembly. Normally the one who suffers the actions will need to call for help. They have sued three Cambodian persons – Hun Sen, Hor Namhong and Sok An, to the Thai court on charge of invasion of Thai territory at Preah Vihear temple. I would seek encourage them to bring this to the International Court or to the United Nations. Cambodia would appeal for a fact-finding mission to the place.

Thai Extremists Have Gone Too Far

Extremists in Thailand have capitalized (the border) issue in various forms. They have created so many problems like organizing demonstrations at the border and in some instances it has been said to have aimed for pulling out border marker and urged the Royal Thai Government to use military means, while Cambodia maintains its patience and peaceful means for solving the problem.

It is beyond my imagination that in the 21^st century Thailand, there still is this sort of man like Sondhi Limthongkul, the leader of the yellow shirt. He has insulted me in his word to parade a decapitated head. It is a grave insult. How on earth the Royal Thai Government allows a person like this to insult leader of a sovereign nation, whereas Cambodia – myself and my people – never for once insult Thai leaders at all. Comparisons to so and so have been made but never to cutting short life.

In the latest instance they show footage of their acting out with my picture hung to a banana tree and cutting it off with a sword. Sondhi also claimed to have joined a welcome group for my visit to Thailand in 1989 and said I was a gentleman not a fearful one. He even said I like Rado watch as is quoted by ASTV. I would tell him that any watch I would ever put on is Rolex and the least I had when I took to the marquis is Titoni. If you happened to have welcomed me then you were nobody because my counterpart was Chattichai Choonhavan.

However, for all you have said and done to me, I do not bother get even with you. I have two things for you as reminders, though. Firstly, Hun Sen has got a powerful spirit that is looking after him so he could not be affected in any way by your black magic. Remember that in Siem Reap province in 1998, four B40 grenades were launched at me. But I was completely safe. What could we say about that? I would warn you, as I still consider you as human being, that your black magic will return to you and others involved in the above performance.

Secondly, those who attempted your life in April 2009 are still at large. Therefore your life is still in danger. You may need to be careful for your life. I do not put a curse on your life and I wish that you live longer to see what is going to happen. I also urge the whole people of Cambodia to weigh whatever response they may do to a level of dignity and morality. Let’s refrain from doing action that is causing conflict with other Thai citizens, first of all those who work and do business in Cambodia. I urge you not to hold demonstration in which pictures of Thai leaders are to be burned or enacting like the one they did.

Sondhi is correct for comment that I was not a ferocious person. I am not so for good people but more so when I have to deal with bad ones. I wish to take it back to his comment that I owe gratitude to Thailand. Let me excuse myself that never have I a debt of gratitude to pay for Thailand at all. I have yet to clear the deal you had in helping the tripartite Government (of Democratic Kampuchea) to fight me (the Phnom Penh Government). I am the Phnom Penh Government then and not those who settled in your camps along the border. When Khmer Rouge fell out in Phnom Penh, without the help from Thailand, they would have ended then. However, have I ever uttered a word about that?

Possibilities for Meetings

Let me now talk about possibility for any meetings (between the two countries). Firstly, there is a possibility for a meeting of the Joint Border Commission led by the National Defense Minister of the two countries. I have said the other day that such meeting could go on as it is not a mechanism to see about demarcation but to work together for the prevention of border crimes such as human and drug trafficking, trade facilitation and security for the people of the two countries along the border areas. This level of meeting can go on. As for the meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers, I would allow only after the Thai side ratifies the minutes of agreements as without them such meeting would be fruitless.

However, there is one other possibility where I have a meeting with the Prime Minister of Thailand as there will be several upcoming venues and events such as Asia- Europe to be held in Brussels in early October, ASEAN to be summit held in Vietnam in late October or leaders' meeting of ACMECS to be held in Cambodia in November. The ASEAN Secretary General has tried to feel the pulse for such a meeting. I said there would not be any difficulty but such meeting should not be misunderstood for solving the problem bilaterally. Normally when two Prime Ministers meet, there are lots of things to talk about.

On November 16 and 17, the Prime Minister will have to come for the meeting of ACMECS in Cambodia. In 2012, when Cambodia is hosting the ASEAN and ASEAN+ summits, and if he is still in position, he will have to come more than one time to Cambodia too. As for me I am sure that my term will go all the way to 2013 and I will surely chair the said meetings and summits. We have investment, trade, cross-border transportation, environmental protection, etc. among other things to talk about.

In Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam, when I attended the World Economic Forum, I also met him and asked him about his family, especially his children, of their traumatic conditions during the incident that blood was splashed at his house. No one is going to ask for a meeting but the issue is that we have intention to meet. However, it is not necessary at this stage for a third party – ASEAN Secretary General, ASEM or the UN Secretary General - to intervene for such meeting. I do not know if this way is what Abhisit could take or not?