Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Cambodia hits up foreign donors for more aid

19.06.2007
AP

Cambodian leader Hun Sen expressed irritation at critics' doubt about his government's ability to manage prospective oil and gas revenues, as he opened a meeting with foreign donors Tuesday to ask for more aid. The two-day meeting followed a barrage of criticism that Prime Minister Hun Sen's government has repeatedly reneged on promises to control rampant corruption. In his opening speech, Hun Sen chided the donors for being "a bit over concerned" about the use of oil revenues when oil is still under the seabed and "we do not really know the exact quantity of oil and gas" yet. He said such concerns disregard his government's efforts to implement reform and "appear to prematurely cast doubt on the government's integrity and capacity in the management and leadership of the country." Recent offshore oil discovery by U.S. energy giant Chevron Corp. _ although it is not certain yet if that would lead to production _ has prompted concerns that corruption could worsen in Cambodia. Hun Sen told the donors his government is firmly committed to enacting an anti-corruption law, a promise he has made in the past but remains unmet.

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