Phnom Penh (FN), Jul. 11 – More than 20 Chinese media outlets have broadcasted Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen’s appeal to the president of the United States and the Ukrainian president not to use cluster munitions, for they will pose great danger to the lives of the innocent Ukrainian citizens for years ahead.

The premier's appeal was made on 9 July 2023 after the US announced to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine.

“Recently, there are many news reports that the US will supply cluster munitions to Ukraine to fight against the Russian forces,” premier Hun Sen wrote on his Telegram channel on Sunday (Jul 9).

Samdech continued, if it is true, it could pose great danger to Ukrainian citizens for decades or even hundreds of years. Cambodia suffered tragic experience from the US bombing in the early 1970s and for more than half a century, the kingdom has yet eradicated it entirely.

“I acknowledge that Cambodia is a small power, but we are compassionate for the Ukrainian citizens. I would like to call on the presidents of the US and Ukraine to refrain from using cluster munitions in this war because the real victims are the Ukrainian citizens,” the premier added.

On 7 July 2023, the US announced that it would supply Ukraine with widely banned cluster munitions for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces, according to Reuters.

Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not signed on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans production, stockpiling, use and transfer of the weapons.

Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen also urged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries and the US allies to jointly prevent the use of cluster munitions in the Russia-Ukraine war.

“On behalf of the head of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to continue to appeal to some NATO member countries and US allies such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Canada, who are the signatory countries to the Convention on the Cluster Munitions, to take responsibility and jointly prevent the US president Joe Biden and the president of Ukraine from using this deadly weapon,” the premier wrote on his Twitter on Monday evening (Jul 10).
=FRESH NEWS