Phnom Penh (FN), Apr. 26 – Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen announced his firm position not to negotiate with any other party, specifically Viet Nam, over the Funan Techo Canal Project.

Samdech Techo spoke on Friday (Apr. 26) during his gala dinner with Cambodian Oknha Association at Garden City Hotel Phnom Penh.

Samdech Hun Sen mentioned that based on the Mekong River Commission (MRC) agreement, if any member wishes to use tributaries of the Mekong River, the member does not require prior consultations. They only need to notify other members. In this context, the Funan Techo Canal Project is constructed on the tributaries of the Mekong River's tributaries, so Cambodia does not require prior consultations. However, if Viet Nam requires additional supporting documents, Cambodia can provide them upon request without requiring consensus from any country.

According to the 1995 Mekong Agreement, timely notification plus additional data and information to the Joint Committee as provided in the Rules for Water Utilisation and Inter-Basin Diversion under Article 26, that would allow the other member riparians to discuss and evaluate the impact of the proposed use upon their uses of water and any other affects, which is the basis for arriving at an agreement. Prior consultation is neither a right to veto the use nor unilateral right to use water by any riparian without taking into account other riparians’ rights.
=FRESH NEWS