Cambodia accuses EU of "interference" over election recommendation

Xinhua | 2013-6-28 

By Agencies

The government of Cambodia accused the European Union Delegation of interfering in the country's internal affairs and urged it to respect the country's sovereignty and independence.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia cannot accept and rejects the Delegation's Statement as a sovereign and independent State," according to a diplomatic note the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to the EU Delegation on Thursday and posted on the Ministry's website on Friday.

The reaction was made after the EU Delegation issued a statement on Wednesday, recommending Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) to take steps to ensure a free and fair general election on July 28.

"A transparent and credible election is a major opportunity to consolidate democracy and secure Cambodia's future development," the EU said in the statement.

It added that it was important that the NEC implemented the outstanding recommendations from the 2008 EU Election Observation Mission.

"Among others, these include, as now required by law in Cambodia, the need to provide equitable media access and to prevent the use of State resources in the campaign," the EU's statement said, adding that the EU welcomed the positive technical improvements already taken in the NEC procedures, and encouraged further steps to improve the accuracy of voter lists.

"It is in the interest of all Cambodian citizens that the electoral campaign promotes a constructive democratic debate focused on policy issues that matter. In this respect, the EU hopes that political parties will refrain from using threatening and inflammatory rhetoric, and will enter from now on into an open discussion of visions for the future of the country," it said.

According to the diplomatic note, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the EU to respect the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which stipulated that foreign countries have "the duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of a State."

"The Ministry would like to underline that the Government of Cambodia is always committed to a free, fair, transparent and democratic election as held previously and as repeatedly stated by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen," read the diplomatic note.

Eight political parties will contest in a general election on July 28.

Three major parties among them are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by self-exiled leader Sam Rainsy, and the royalist Funcinpec Party headed by Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Political observers predict that Hun Sen's party will win a landslide victory in the upcoming polls.

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the post until he is 74.