Phnom Penh (FN), May 18 – During his visit to Moscow, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen requested Russia to turn Cambodia’s debt into development assistance and joint investments and that could be in terms of human resource development in social and environment sectors and other areas just as what Russia had done with Cambodia during the Sangkum Reast Nyum.

Cambodia was indebted to Russia during the civil war, but the exact figure of the debt has never been provided. “However, a debt must be paid, but we need to examine it,” stated the premier during a visit and meeting on May, 18, 2016 with over 300 Cambodian students in Russia.

“Yesterday, I took the opportunity to request Russia to increase scholarships for Cambodian students. They do know that Cambodia is indebted to both Russia and the U.S. But the debt to Russia can be examined while the latter cannot be taken into consideration,” said the premier.

The Prime Minister said he was wondering what Lon Nol had done with that loan. “Was it used for development of agriculture?” he asked. But Lon Nol only stayed in Phnom Penh and other parts were under the control of the other groups. So, the loan is called “dirty loan”, he added.
=FRESHNEWS