Cambodia To Seek US Debt Forgiveness

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from New York
02 October 2009

Cambodia will ask the US to cancel hundreds of million dollar war-era debt the country owes, Cambodia’s foreign minister said Sunday, a day before meeting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Hor Namhong, in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, told VOA Khmer in an interview that it was fair if the debt was cancelled.

"I will ask [Clinton] to ask the US government to relieve Cambodia's debt, because it was from the Lon Nol regime,” Hor Namhong said at a hotel near UN headquarters.

"The loan was for buying war weaponry to fight in Cambodia. I will tell her that Cambodia has never demanded reparations for the [US] bombing during the Vietnam War, which killed many Cambodians and caused damages...Therefore, the US should understand the debt Cambodia owes,” he added.

Hor Namhong, Cambodia’s longtime foreign minister, is scheduled to meet Clinton Monday in New York, Cambodian officials said. They are expected to discuss an array of issues.

Cambodian officials have said Cambodia owes more than $300 million to the US dating back to the 1970s.

This is the first time that Cambodia will discuss the matter with US senior officials after several public requests and discussions by Cambodia's top leader, legislative body and international organizations with some US officials.

"First, we will ask the US to totally cancel the debt, but if this is not possible, we will then ask to turn the majority of it into development assistance, and Cambodia will pay a certain small portion of it," said Hor Namhong.

Some countries which the US relieves debt through the form of development assistance use the money for investing in education - an example some international organizations have suggested for Cambodia.

Cambodia's biggest opposition party also agrees with the government.

"We support the government in asking some countries to cancel debts that Cambodia owes from the past, but from today onward all foreign loan should be done with care,” said Yim Sovann, member of parliament and spokesperson for the Sam Rainsy Party. “It should be used effectively not extravagantly and get lost due to corruption."

One third of Cambodia external debts are from Russia and the US.

Cambodia hopes U.S. to shift 1970s debt as development aid

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian foreign Minister Hor Namhong said on Thursday that his country expressed the hope that the U.S. to shift Cambodia's debt as development aid for the country.

"While I was in the U.S., I held the bilateral talk with Madam Hillary Clinton and I told her that Cambodia hopes U.S. to cancel debts owned by then Lon Nol administration in 1970s, if not possible, Cambodia hopes the U.S. to shift that debt as development aid for our country," Hor told reporters upon arrival from U.S. where he joined the U.N. General Assembly.

Hor said "that development aid will focus on building infrastructure for the country," adding that "Madam Hillary told me that she will pay attention on this debt and take care of that issue."

Cambodia has owed the United State in a total of over 300 million U.S. dollars by Lon Nol regime. Hor Namhong, at the same time, also highlighted the progress of the bilateral military cooperation between two countries. "We are optimistic in improving and moving forward the bilateral cooperation between the two countries," he added.

Cambodia Enters Fray on Climate Change

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from New York
29 September 2009

Cambodia has urged developed countries to show more commitment to mitigating climate change, saying that countries like Cambodia that are affected most.

In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York Saturday, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that developed countries, who produce the most greenhouse gases, “should share greater responsibility and take more drastic and urgent measures to reduce the emission of these deadly gases.”

“It is an obligation of the international community to roll back global temperatures before it is too late,” he said.

Cambodia’s farmers, around 80 percent of the population, rely on agriculture, making them vulnerable to climate change, he said, adding that Cambodia had undertaken several climate change responses, including implementing the UN convention on climate change.

“We have also launched a major campaign of reforestation all over the country, with more than 49,000 hectares of trees planted,” he said.

The UN’s 64th General Assembly session comes as the world faces a series of challenges, from the global economic crisis to global warming, food security to terrorism and the threat of nuclear proliferation.

Hor Namhong’s speech focused on global issues, such as the Middle East, a denuclearized Korean peninsula and UN reform, avoiding the topic of human rights.

Comrade Hor 5 Hong addresses the 64th UN General Assembly ... Interesting accent Comrade!

Part 1

Part 2

On Saturday 26 September, Comrade Hor 5 Hong addresses the 64th UN General Assembly. It's interesting to hear the comrade's accent. Anybody can guess where he picked up this accent from?

Is Comrade Hor 5 Hong confessing that Cambodia is in serious economic trouble?

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong addresses the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Cambodia calls for successful conclusion of trade talks

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Saturday called for the successful conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations to help mitigate the impact of the world economic and financial crisis on developing countries.

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong made the statement as he addressed the general debate of the UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters.

While the developed countries have more possibilities and resources to cope with the economic slowdown, the developing countries have suffered the most with a huge loss of national income, he said.

The economic growth of developing countries is expected to fall sharply due to a drastic reduction in export which they have largely been dependent on, to the falling of investment, and to the rising unemployment, he said.

"In order to help mitigate the impact of this economic and financial disaster on developing countries, I am of the view that we should do everything possible to get the Doha Round negotiation back on track for a successful conclusion in order to break down barriers to trade, to better market access, particularly in agricultural goods, and to reduce agricultural subsidies," he said.

He welcomed the recent commitment of G20 made in Pittsburg to bringing the Doha Round to a successful conclusion in 2010.

The Monterrey Consensus should be invigorated in order to help developing countries to alleviate poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), he added.

Comrade Hor 5 Hong left to New York to attend the UN General Assembly ... will discuss freedom of expression with Hillary Clinton

Cambodian FM flies to New York to attend UN General Assembly

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong left here on Tuesday for New York to attend the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly to be held from Sept. 23 to 30.

Koy Kuong, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Tuesday that as planned Hor Namhongwill deliver a speech to the session with focuses on world economic crisis, millennium development goals, climate change, Doha Round, food and energy security and the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Also, on the sidelines of the U.N forum, Koy Kuong said, Hor Namhong plans to have bilateral meetings with other foreign ministers including the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

For the meeting with Hillary Clinton which is planned on Sept. 28, Hor Namhong will discuss the issues on bilateral cooperation, freedom of expression, the U.S. trade act, ASEAN-U.S. relations and the U.S. assistance to Cambodia, Koy Kuong added.

It will be the first time for Hor Namhong to meet bilaterally with Hillary Clinton, according to Koy Kuong.