Phnom Penh (FN), Jul. 23 – Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen made it clear to his compatriots that the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) is Samdech Techo's own initiative.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen spoke on Tuesday (Jul. 23) in a special message on the CLV-DTA.

In response to allegations by Sok Sokun, also known as James Sok, that the DTA was a Vietnamese initiative in 1995, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the true initiator who has attended 11 CLV summits since 1999, refuted these claims as baseless.

"Some say it is a Vietnamese initiative since 1999. This is unsubstantiated and shameless. If you are confident, swear by it," he said, addressing James Sok directly. He also considered James Sok to have neurological issues and incapable of improvement.

In the special message, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said he was the initiator of the DTA. During his visit to Laos, he sought support from then Laotian prime minister, Sisavath Keobounphan, and later, during a meeting with Viet Nam, he also secured support from then Vietnamese prime minister, Phan Van Khai.

According to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, he initiated the idea of establishing the CLV-DTA because he observed that Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam were among the poorest regions during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces in Cambodia had no roads to connect them, requiring reliance on Viet Nam.
=FRESH NEWS