On August 2, 1997, ASEAN Special Envoys, led by H.E. Mr. Ali Alatas, Foreign Minister of Indonesia, including H.E. Mr. Prachuab Chaiyasan, Foreign Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Domingo Siazon, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, paid a second visit to Phnom Penh to hold a meeting with H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Ung Huot Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and senior government officials.

"We welcome the ASEAN second mission to Cambodia to bring their contribution for peace and stability as we always consider them as our brothers and sisters," said H.E. Mr. Ung Huot in a Press Release issued on August 1, 1997 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Following is the content of "Aide Memoire" of Second Prime Minister Hun Sen in the meeting with ASEAN Special Envoys:

1. A short time fighting inside the city of Phnom Penh and its vicinity from the afternoon of July the fifth to July the sixth 1997 was a result of the collusion between Norodom Ranariddh and the Khmer Rouge leaders in Anlong Veng.
   
   Along with the Khmer Rouge forces being transported and the armed forces being moved without order into Phnom Penh and its vicinity, Ranariddh illegally imported weapons and ammunition which to date the Armed Forces of the Royal Government have uncovered and captured more than 10,000 pieces of weapons, including modern anti-tank rockets, which have never been ordered by the Government.
   
   The fighting took place 18 hours after Norodom Ranariddh declared that there was a coup d'état in Phnom Penh and ordered the armed forces to fight and topple the Royal Government.
   
   Norodom Ranariddh left the country on July the fourth 1997 without anyone being aware of. The morning of July the fifth, Norodom Ranariddh ordered the armed forces to fight and at 15:15 the forces that are close to Ranariddh started to shell artillery rounds onto Phnom Penh. The Government forces was thrown onto a defensive and started its counter-attack at 5:30 in the morning of July the sixth and the fighting came to the end after 18:00 of the same day. There followed by small clashes during a mopping-up operation in the vicinity of Phnom Penh.
   
   
2. The country's situation is now returning to normal after the Royal Government's Armed Forces has taken effective measures to contain the extremist group, in collusion with the Khmer Rouge and the Mafia from attempting to overturn the existing of the Royal Government and to create public insecurity.
   
   The said activity of the Royal Government which was carried out with no intention to oppose any political party, or any individual other than the extremist group and their associates, the outlawed Khmer Rouge,allows all state institutions to maintain their operations. The spirit of the Paris Peace Accords and the various achievements resulted from the 1993 general election such as the Constitution, the Constitutional Monarchy, the National Assembly, the Royal Government and its policies have all been maintained and sustained.
   
   The National Assembly which has been stalled for period of seven months, now resumes its work, opening its session on Monday of July the 28th.
   
   
3. The return to normalcy of the situation in Cambodia and the re-opening of the session of the National Assembly clearly shows that Cambodia has sufficient capacity to resolve its internal problem by itself.
   
   In this spirit, the Royal Government of Cambodia welcomes a just stance of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in adhering to the principle of non-interference into other country's internal affairs.
   
   The Royal Government of Cambodia welcomes the intention of the ASEAN countries to contribute to the stability and peace in Cambodia through a constructive consultation. One important contribution that ASEAN could offer is not to encourage any new war in Cambodia. In this connection, the Royal Government deems it is necessary that Norodom Ranariddh ceases immediately his war ignition activities, by:
   
   
   a. -putting an end to all fighting against the Royal Government
   -nullifying all appointments which aimed at kindling the war, such as the appointment of chief, and deputy chief of general staff.
   
   
   b. ceasing completely and definitely the political and military collaboration with the outlawed Khmer Rouge.
   
   
   Any political and military activity, in collaboration with the Khmer Rouge at the time the legislation to outlaw the Khmer Rouge is still in forces is illegal. The only option for any political party or individual who wishes to participate in the political life in Cambodia is to abandon completely and definitely the military activities against the Government.
   
   The Government welcomes back and reinstates the military officers and their rank and file to the positions they held prior to the incident of July the fifth and the sixth with the exception of four military leaders who are responsible for the recent bloodshed, namely Nhek Bunchhay, Ho Sok, Serey Kosal and Chao Sambath.
   
   
4. All problems must be resolved by means of law, that is to respect and implement the spirit the Paris Peace Accords, the results of the 1993 general elections, the constitution, and all the laws in force.
   
   
5. The Royal Government of Cambodia welcomes the just position taken by the Royal Government of Thailand towards the internal dispute of Cambodia by its refusal to offer any support and permission to use Thai territory for an armed struggle infiltrating into Cambodia.
   
   In this connection, the Royal Government of Cambodia wishes to propose to the Royal Government of Thailand to:
   
   · provide neither shelter nor place to the opposition group to continue their warfare which is contrary to the interest of our two countries.
   · encourage the Cambodian politicians who are staying in Thailand to return to Cambodia to take up again their political activities and their normal lives.
   
   
6. The Royal Government of Cambodia concentrates all its efforts for the realization of four major tasks. It tries to:
   
   
   a. Create a political stability by curbing violence, intimidation, threats, and restore confidence among the political parties in order to create a favorable atmosphere for a general election. Simultaneously, the Government makes every effort to stabilize the macro-economics and encourages the investors to continue their businesses and to make more investments in Cambodia.
   
   
   b. Maintain and respect the result of the Paris Peace Accords and the 1993 general election by strictly upholding the Constitutional Monarchy, the Constitution, the National Assembly, the Royal Government's policy.
   
   
   c. Ensure continuity of all state institutions of the Kingdom of Cambodia, including The resumption of the National Assembly session which is a strong encouragement.
   
   
   d. Prepare for and organize an election on May 23, 1998 as scheduled. The Government has confidence in its capacity as a sovereign country to make preparation to holding and supervise election by itself. At the same time, we welcome the international observers and a coordinating role to be played by the United Nations through the Special Representative of the Secretary General to Phnom Penh.
   
   
   
7. The Royal Government of Cambodia extends its gratitude to the world powers and other countries in the region who adhere to a position of non-interference into Cambodian affairs. Many countries are continuing to provide their assistance to the Cambodian people, which is a significant contribution to the stability and peace of Cambodia.

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