PM Says Culture of Dialogue On Rocks

Prime Minister Hun Sen was in New York City and spoke to Cambodians living there on September 24. (Photo Supplied)

Khmer Time/ Ven Rathavong

Friday, 25 September 2015

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – While visiting the US, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the 'culture of dialogue', a political agreement between the ruling Cambodian People's Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, was not going well and was at a breaking point.

“The culture of dialogue was created by me and His Excellency Sam Rainsy, but it doesn’t seem to have made things better because the other side is using it for the political advantage of their party more than the country and its people,” he said.

He made the comments during a speech in the US in front of a room full of Cambodians living in New York City.

He added that he has used the principles of the 'culture of dialogue' for most of his life, and Mr. Rainsy was not the first political opponent he made a deal with.  

Mr. Hun Sen pointed out that his first political détente partner was the Late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, when the two were negotiating in 1987. Only dialogue, he said, could end the war and political conflict.

Yim Sovann, a CNRP official, confirmed that the CNRP still respects the culture of dialogue and has no intention of taking advantage of the agreement.