Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 24 – Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen stated that the complete withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Cambodia in 1989 cleared the path for progress in stalled negotiations, which had been hindered by the Khmer Rouge and the presence of foreign troops in Cambodia.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen spoke on Sunday (Nov. 24) during the opening of the 11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel.

Samdech Techo underscored, "The complete withdrawal of Vietnamese troops in 1989 resolved the deadlock in negotiations regarding the future of the Khmer Rouge and the presence of foreign troops in Cambodia. I want to highlight this point. When I became prime minister, I was also the minister of Foreign Affairs. At the end of 1985, there was a meeting of foreign ministers in Hanoi, with me as the prime minister, Nguyen Co Thach as Viet Nam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Phoumi Vongvichit as Laos’s Deputy Prime Minister, and other representatives as foreign ministers."

Samdech Techo further underscored, "At that time, we announced that we would withdraw the Vietnamese army within five to ten years. If we had followed that timeline, the Vietnamese army would have withdrawn between 1990 and 1995. However, we took action on our own to build our own strength as quickly as possible to replace the role of the Vietnamese army. Viet Nam eventually withdrew its troops in September 1989, which allowed Cambodia to address its international issues."

Samdech Techo added, "The Cambodian issue had both international and internal dimensions. When the Vietnamese army withdrew, the international aspect was resolved. The remaining issues were the future of the Khmer Rouge, the involvement of foreign countries, and military aid to the opposition. This shifted the focus of the negotiations, which had previously centred on the presence of the Vietnamese army. Once they left, my negotiations gained stronger momentum at the negotiating table."

On the occasion, Samdech Techo continued that the foundation of the negotiation process, supported by friendly countries in the international community, was more significant than Cambodia's own initiative in establishing the Supreme National Council (SNC). This was the most crucial aspect of the negotiation process, as it demonstrated Cambodia's determination and proactive approach in building and securing peace for the nation, regardless of the challenges faced.
=FRESH NEWS