The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations is dismayed by the press allegations that Samdech Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia had cancelled his trip to New York and even threatened to suspend cooperation with the United Nations. The Permanent Mission would like to make the following clarifications:

1. Samdech Hun Sen never said that he cancelled his trip to the United Nations in New York even though the UN Credentials Committee could not reach a consensus on the credentials of the Delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia to the 52nd session of the UNGA. The Permanent Mission had submitted an official request since September 8, 1997 for Co-Prime Ministers of the Royal Government of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Ung Huot and Samdech Hun Sen, for a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations. The Permanent Mission is still awaiting a reply. Therefore, the trip of Samdech Hun Sen to New York remains unchanged.
   
   
2. Some misleading headlines eager for a sensational story did not hesitate to invent one. The fact is that the Royal Government of Cambodia continues to enjoy excellent relations with UNSG Special Representative in Cambodia and other UN specialized agencies and welcome the UN role in the forthcoming general election in 1998 in coordinating international observers during the electoral process.
   
   
3. It is worthwhile to recall that the Credentials Letter appointing the Delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia was signed by His Majesty NORODOM SIHANOUK, King of Cambodia, and it is difficult to understand why the UN Credentials Committee could not decide between the Royal Government of Cambodia and a tiny group of desperate Cambodian exiles who represent nothing but themselves.