U.S., EU urge Cambodia elected parties to continue talks

តំណាងរាស្ត្រគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា និងបណ្តាអង្គទូតនានា ថត​រូប​រួម​គ្នា​ជាមួយ​ព្រះ​មហាក្សត្រ​កម្ពុជា។ រូប​ថត ម៉ៃ វីរៈ

English.news.cn   2013-09-23 19:04:47

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United States and the European Union on Monday urged Cambodia's ruling and opposition parties to continue their dialogue towards electoral reforms and settlement of national problems.

"The United States calls for a transparent review of irregularities in the July 28 national elections which would help efforts to assess and address flaws in the electoral process," a U. S. embassy statement issued after the opening session of Cambodian parliament with a boycott from the opposition party.

The statement also urged the two parties to follow through on their joint statement last week supporting discussion of electoral reforms and agreeing to resolve national problems through dialogue.

"We believe that a functioning National Assembly requires the participation of both major political parties," it said. "The United States urges the party leaders to work together for an outcome that unites the country and best serves the Cambodian people."

Meanwhile, the European Union called on the political parties to work together to identify any flaws that occurred and to agree steps to improve the electoral process.

"The European Union believes that the National Assembly cannot serve its purpose without the participation of all elected political parties," said a statement.

"We encourage the political parties to continue their dialogue to agree on structural reforms in areas that will contribute to Cambodia's longer term development," it said.

The statements came after Cambodia opened a new parliament session on Monday with the participation only from the ruling party as the opposition boycotted it.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won 68 out of the 123 parliamentary seats in the July 28 election, and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy got 55 seats.

But the CNRP did not recognize the outcome, claiming serious vote fraud and demanding the formation of an independent poll probe committee.

Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy had held two rounds of talks last week, aiming at finding a way to break through this political impasse, but failed to reach any major agreement since the premier has refused to accept any further investigation into the July election.

Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government.

According to the official schedule, Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will be sworn in for another five-year term on Tuesday.