Cambodia's Parliament ratifies conventions on nuclear safety

Xinhua | 14 November 2012
By Agencies

The National Assembly of Cambodia on Wednesday ratified two international conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency and Nuclear Safety to maintain peace, security, safety, and to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Seventy-nine lawmakers attending the Assembly session unanimously agreed to allow Cambodia to become a state party of the conventions.

"Cambodia has neither nuclear power plant nor chemical weapon plant; Cambodia is a country that loves peace, stability, safety and cooperation," said Pal Sam Oeun, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Commission on Interior, National Defense, Investigation, Anti-Corruption and Public Function.

"The entry into the conventions will help maintain Cambodians' basic interests and contribute to harmony in the region and the world," he said.

The Constitution of Cambodia absolutely prohibited the manufacturing, use, storage of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, he said.

Long Thul, secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice and deputy chief of the National Authority on Chemical Weapons, said that the convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident consists of 17 articles, while the convention on Nuclear Safety comprised 35 articles.

Lawmaker Kem Sokha, President of the Human Rights Party, expressed his support for the conventions, saying that it will contribute to maintaining peace and to securing well-being for Cambodian people.