Readouts
Readout of the Secretary-General's Meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 27 October 2010
The Secretary-General and Prime Minister Hun Sen met this morning for a detailed exchange of views on a broad range of subjects covering bilateral, regional and international issues.
The Secretary General commended Cambodia's progress on the Millennium Development Goals. He expressed appreciation for the Government's support to the work of the UN in Cambodia and its One UN reform.
Underlining the importance of the partnership between the UN and ASEAN, he expressed keen interest in promoting their cooperation in more concrete forms.
On the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, the Secretary-General strongly urged both sides to find a friendly and peaceful solution through dialogue.
Human rights figured strongly in their discussions. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the Government's cooperation with all human rights mechanisms. He underlined the importance of creating political space for public debate, including on key issues of human rights. He focused specifically on the essential public advocacy role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and stressed the notable role and value of its Office in Phnom Penh
The discussion also focused on the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). The Secretary-General underlined the need for the Government of Cambodia to respect the independence of the Court and to fully cooperate with it, in order for the court to enjoy international support and leave a strong legacy in Cambodia. The Extraordinary Court, he emphasized, was established to be fully independent, and that even the Secretary General should not seek to influence its decisions in any way.
The Secretary-General highlighted the important role played by the UN since 1993 in the area of elections, and noted that it was now time to take definitive steps to bring the electoral system more firmly in line with international standards.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister also discussed the situation in Myanmar in the context of the forthcoming elections in that country on 7 November and the continuing good offices role of the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the long term commitment of the UN to the people of Myanmar.