Thursday, March 01, 2007

Contrary to Reports, the US Has Yet To Give Cambodia Direct Aid

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Letter to the Editor
The Cambodia Daily


The US Embassy would like to correct inaccuracies in recent reports concerning the lifting of Congressional restrictions on US funding for programs in support of Cambodian government activities. At no time has the embassy indicated that the US will provide money directly to the Cambodian government. The lifting of restrictions opens the door to this possibility, but in order to take advantage of this opportunity, the Cambodian government must demonstrate that it has transparent and accountable financial and procurement systems.

The US works with host governments to design and implement programs that support mutual development objectives in a variety of ways. Direct funding is one way; funding NGOs is another. Our existing agreements with the Cambodian government in health and education are prime examples of how the US and Cambodia already work together.

In short, we do not anticipate that the lifting of the Congressional restrictions will immediately change the way we manage or program US development assistance in Cambodia. We will, however, have renewed flexibility to design and implement programs in partnership with the Cambodian government. Our experience has shown that this is an arrangement that can greatly improve the lives of the Cambodian people, which is after all the goal of US development assistance in this country.

Piper AW Campbell
Charge d'Affaires, ai
US Embassy, Phnom Penh

1 comment:

Khmer Young said...

This shameful for Hun Sen government. Need only money, but never cleansed butt.

However, China's aide will not worry that Hun Sen government's butt is microbe contagious...China worries only concession permission.