Cambodia, 1995

First of all, I wish to

extend to Mr. Freitas do Amaral and his glorious country,

Portugal, my delegation’s heartfelt congratulations on his

election to the presidency of the fiftieth session of the

United Nations General Assembly. I am certain that his

leadership talent and experiences will enable us to meet the

serious challenges that we face in today’s quickly changing

world. I wish to assure him of our full cooperation.

On behalf of the Kingdom of Cambodia, I would like

to join the heads of delegation who have preceded me in

the pleasant task of expressing thanks and admiration to the

President of the forty-ninth session of the General

Assembly, Mr. Amara Essy of Côte d’Ivoire, for the

tremendous contribution he made over the course of a

productive and historic year.

The Kingdom of Cambodia wishes also to thank the

Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his

strong and effective work, which has been so instrumental

in the success of this Organization. We are all aware of the

Secretary-General’s great achievement in his handling of

Cambodia’s problem. My country is very proud of him.

Cambodia now enjoys peace, freedom and democracy

thanks to the representatives of all the Member States, who

have contributed so much in this peace process with us.

Cambodia wishes to pay special tribute to the courage of

the United Nations peace-keepers who died for peace and

freedom on Cambodian soil alongside thousands of other

compatriots.

The Royal Government of Cambodia is working in

close cooperation with the Special Representative of the

Secretary-General in Cambodia, the Honourable Benny

Widyono. His presence is of the utmost importance to

Cambodia. He performs his duty with excellence and is

highly commended by the Government and the people of

Cambodia.

The Kingdom of Cambodia appreciated the work of

the Honourable Justice Michael Kirby, the Secretary-

General’s Special Representative for Human Rights in

Cambodia. Through close cooperation and regular

consultations with him, and the United Nations Centre for

Human Rights, steps are being taken to improve the

human rights situation in the country. Cambodia,

however, continues to support the presence and the work

of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights. It is

making valuable contributions to and recommendations

for the improvement of the overall situation in Cambodia.

It is with great honour and pride that I address this

fiftieth session of the General Assembly, for the first

time, as the representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Royal Government today, under the leadership of

both the First Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince

Norodom Ranariddh, and the Second Prime Minister,

Samdech Hun Sen, is now more than two years old. It

was the result of a democratic election organized and

supervised by the United Nations. It is a product of the

multilateral efforts of the United Nations with the close

cooperation of the Cambodian people, under the wise

guidance and leadership of His Majesty King Norodom

Sihanouk Varman.

Through the determination of the Cambodian people,

the Kingdom of Cambodia today has emerged from a

long period of destruction and war, with many challenges

and opportunities to build a better future. In the past two

years, the Royal Government has made important

progress and achieved some of the most important work

in nation-building, peace-building and economic

development.

After the United Nations-sponsored election in May

1993 the two main political parties combined their efforts

and formed a coalition Government, which has shown

itself to be able to work closely in an efficient manner.

These achievements were only possible with the support

and assistance of the international community.

With peace-building, Cambodia has further

consolidated sustainable peace, security and stability,

which are the necessary conditions for economic

development and nation-building. We have been dealing

with the task of reforming the military, the police and the

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administration for some time now, in order to improve the

public sectors so that they can serve the needs and interests

of the Cambodian people and the private sector. At the

same time, the Royal Government and the National

Assembly are working very closely together to make

Cambodia a State based on the rule of law. Cambodia is

now concentrating more effort, time, energy and funds on

nation-building and economic development. In this respect,

Cambodia is a nation in the making.

On the economic front, Cambodia is working closely

with international financial institutions, particularly the

World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the

Asian Development Bank and the Caisse Française pour le

Developpement to ensure that the process of rehabilitation

and transition to a market economy is well under way.

Despite some difficulties during the period immediately

following the elections, progress in economic development

thus far is very encouraging. According to the latest report

from the IMF, dated 15 September 1995,

“The improved financial discipline has led to an

increasingly stable economic environment, as is

evident in the stability of the exchange rate after the

wide fluctuations of previous years.”

For the period from 1995 to 1997 the Kingdom of

Cambodia is targeting a 7 per cent growth rate. The

inflation rate was brought down from 200 per cent for the

period before the election to 31 per cent in 1993 and to 18

per cent in 1994. An inflation rate of below 10 per cent has

been projected for 1995. These improvements are linked to

the pursuit of structural reforms in the financial sector, civil

service, military and public enterprises. It is important to

note here that a privatization law was adopted in December

1994, and private investments approved and formalized by

the Council for the Development of Cambodia from August

1994 to May 1995 are estimated at $2.5 billion, compared

to $621 million of private investment approved during the

1991 to 1993 period.

The Royal Government is pleased to inform you, Sir,

and the Assembly that the National Programme to

Rehabilitate and Develop Cambodia has made great

progress in articulating the Government’s overall and

sectoral policies and programmes.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

First Country Programme for Cambodia for 1994-1995 has

helped establish three important priorities: first,

modernizing and restructuring the country; secondly,

poverty alleviation and sustainable management of the

environment; and, thirdly, natural resources.

In this regard, Cambodia wishes to thank the

Secretary-General for his appeal for the implementation

of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed

Countries for the 1990s, especially for the five main

objectives: first, the lifting of the debt burden; secondly,

a greater flow of finance to the least developed countries

(LDCs); thirdly, a more favourable trade environment for

the LDCs; fourthly, encouragement for partnership in

LDCs; and, fifthly, a proper infrastructure within LDCs.

The economic and financial situation in Cambodia is

evolving positively, and the performance criteria

subscribed to by the Government with international

organizations have been achieved. While these are good

signs for improving the economic situation in Cambodia,

poverty is still a major problem, particularly in rural

areas, where development is moving at a slower pace.

Rural development has been hampered in some parts of

the country by the continuing problem of landmines. With

international and bilateral assistance, the Cambodian Mine

Action Centre is working towards making Cambodia a

landmine-free country. It will take time, effort and

support from the international community to accomplish

that task.

This year the Kingdom of Cambodia has officially

acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-

East Asia. It has become an observer member in the

Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is

now a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Cambodia is actively engaged in improving and

expanding ties with all countries throughout the world.

Since 1993, with its open door policy and the policy of

positive engagement, Cambodia has rejoined the

community of nations and is working closely with others

to promote world peace and international security. So far

the Kingdom of Cambodia has established diplomatic

relations with 87 countries from all continents.

Cambodia has also taken steps towards full

integration into ASEAN. As an observer member of

ASEAN, Cambodia may participate in important ASEAN

meetings. In December this year Cambodia will for the

first time participate in the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok,

Thailand. Cambodia welcomed Vietnam’s full

membership of ASEAN, Lao aspirations to become a full

member by 1997 and Myanmar’s accession to the Treaty

of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia, to become

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an observer, and looks to the day when all the countries of

South-East Asia form an ASEAN-10. At the same time,

Cambodia welcomes the recent positive trends in the

continuing development and growth of the Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC). While sustainable

economic development and growth are crucial for us all, it

is important that development works to further enhance

peace and stability for the whole world. The long-term

solution being widespread economic development,

Cambodia wishes to assure the Assembly of its support for

the newly created World Trade Organization.

I turn to the question of world peace and international

security. Cambodia is very concerned about the situation in

Afghanistan. We support a peaceful settlement of the

conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Somalia.

Continuing war in these countries will have serious

repercussions on international security.

Cambodia warmly welcomed the major agreement

concluded between Israel and the Palestinians on Sunday,

24 September 1995. We support and encourage the

continuing efforts of the Israeli and Palestinian people to

build peace, freedom and harmony between them.

Cambodia is very happy to see that Mrs. Aung San

Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy of

Myanmar, was freed last July by the State Law and Order

Restoration Council. We welcome this latest move by

Myanmar.

We note with great concern the role of the United

Nations peace-keepers. Ten years ago they numbered only

4,000, but now, as new conflicts pop up like mushrooms,

their number has risen to over 70,000. A new situation has

also emerged wherein the credibility of the peace-keepers

is constantly being challenged. We must find a mechanism

to strengthen the role of the peace-keepers and give them

better support and protection against the evil forces that are

out to weaken and destroy them. It is in this context that

we applaud the new role assigned to the peace-keepers in

Bosnia and Herzegovina. We pray for the success of the

peace talks, led by the distinguished American diplomat

Richard Holbrooke, between Croatia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serbs.

The subject of the United Nations Conference on

Women, held in Beijing this year, was very timely. Since

the formation of the Provisional Government in June 1993,

Cambodia has been conscious of the rights of women.

Cambodia now has in the Government a National

Secretariat for Women’s Affairs, which promotes greater

recognition of the roles of women in society. The Royal

Government sent a delegation of women, headed by Her

Royal Highness Princess Marie Norodom Ranariddh, to

Beijing.

With regard to nuclear testing, as a Party to the

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Cambodia

strongly supports a ban on all nuclear testing around the

world. As we have just concluded the 1995 Review and

Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, nuclear tests

anywhere, whether atmospheric or underground, are of

major concern for all of us in terms of the health, safety

and well-being of humankind. The Kingdom of Cambodia

notes with satisfaction that progress is being made on the

comprehensive test-ban treaty, and we applaud the

agreement that has been reached on the mandate with

regard to the production of fissile materials for weapons.

We are very happy to see the encouraging sign from the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in

augmenting application of the NPT’s safeguards

provisions.

As one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned

Movement, Cambodia looks forward with great

enthusiasm to participating in the ninth Summit

Conference of Heads of State or Government of

Non-Aligned Countries, to be held this year in Cartagena

de Indias, Colombia.

We applaud the professional skill and chairmanship

of His Excellency President Soeharto of the Republic of

Indonesia during the last three years, as leader of the

Non-Aligned Movement.

Cambodia is very happy to welcome the next

Chairman of our Movement, His Excellency President

Ernesto Samper, President of the Republic of Colombia.

My delegation wishes to assure him that he will receive

the fullest cooperation from Cambodia. We are convinced

that he will, in a very spirited way, keep our Movement

in the international agenda spotlight.

As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this

important Organization, an Organization that we should

all be proud of, Cambodia calls for the strengthening and

enhancement of the role of the United Nations, and urges

that we move towards global peace-building and harmony.

Remember that our Organization was built on the very

idea of preventing and ending all conflicts and sufferings,

and remember also that this same idea was made possible

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in the case of Cambodia. Cambodia, I am very proud to

say, is one of the success stories of our Organization.