13 October 2007By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The visit trip to the European Community by Sam Rainsy, the leader of Cambodia’s largest opposition party, has lasted 8-day already counting this Saturday.
Sam Rainsy is actively seeking supporting help from overseas Cambodians, and from foreign officials so that he can obtain good results for his party at the upcoming 2008 general election. Sam Rainsy gave a short interview to RFA, while he was traveling on a train from Paris, France, to meet various Cambodian communities.
Mayarith (RFA): How is your visit to seek support for your party?
Sam Rainsy (SR): Right now, I am traveling to French provinces after (visiting) Paris. There are 2 major cities in France: Lyon and Marseilles. Right now, I am traveling to Marseilles, I will meet with our compatriots in Marseilles, which is located along the southern coast of France. I will go to Lyon which is located on the highest mountain region in Europe this Sunday, after that I will return back to Paris. On Wednesday, I will travel to Oslo, Norway, where I will meet with Norwegian government officials, and friends who are Norwegian Members of Parliament. From Norway, I will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, where I will meet Swedish MPs and government representatives also.
RFA: How about your visit to France, whom among the French government officials have you met?
SR: I met with French MP Chantal Brunel from the ruling (UMP) party. She was recently nominated as President of the France-Cambodia Friendship Group formed by French MPs from all political parties who love Cambodia, and they have formed this France-Cambodia Friendship Group. Chantal Brumel was recently nominated to head this Friendship Group.
RFA: What are the outcomes for Cambodia through all your meeting visits?
SR: As outcome (to these meetings), they (foreign officials) are very interested in Cambodia. Therefore, I am confident that they will follow up and help, first of all, push for a correct election in Cambodia. Secondly, they will push for a rapid adoption of the anti-corruption law. Thirdly, they will push the KR Tribunal to move forward faster also. So the three issues of interest to them are: (1) next year’s election, (2) anti-corruption law, and (3) the KR Tribunal.
Sam Rainsy is actively seeking supporting help from overseas Cambodians, and from foreign officials so that he can obtain good results for his party at the upcoming 2008 general election. Sam Rainsy gave a short interview to RFA, while he was traveling on a train from Paris, France, to meet various Cambodian communities.
Mayarith (RFA): How is your visit to seek support for your party?
Sam Rainsy (SR): Right now, I am traveling to French provinces after (visiting) Paris. There are 2 major cities in France: Lyon and Marseilles. Right now, I am traveling to Marseilles, I will meet with our compatriots in Marseilles, which is located along the southern coast of France. I will go to Lyon which is located on the highest mountain region in Europe this Sunday, after that I will return back to Paris. On Wednesday, I will travel to Oslo, Norway, where I will meet with Norwegian government officials, and friends who are Norwegian Members of Parliament. From Norway, I will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, where I will meet Swedish MPs and government representatives also.
RFA: How about your visit to France, whom among the French government officials have you met?
SR: I met with French MP Chantal Brunel from the ruling (UMP) party. She was recently nominated as President of the France-Cambodia Friendship Group formed by French MPs from all political parties who love Cambodia, and they have formed this France-Cambodia Friendship Group. Chantal Brumel was recently nominated to head this Friendship Group.
RFA: What are the outcomes for Cambodia through all your meeting visits?
SR: As outcome (to these meetings), they (foreign officials) are very interested in Cambodia. Therefore, I am confident that they will follow up and help, first of all, push for a correct election in Cambodia. Secondly, they will push for a rapid adoption of the anti-corruption law. Thirdly, they will push the KR Tribunal to move forward faster also. So the three issues of interest to them are: (1) next year’s election, (2) anti-corruption law, and (3) the KR Tribunal.
