Your Excellency, acting Head of the National Assembly, Samdech, Lok Chumteav, Excellencies, eminent Members of the National Assembly, Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished national and International Guests,
I have the great honor today to receive the trust from Lok Chumteav and Your Excellencies, eminent Members of the National Assembly, who have voted and given me their confidence to become the First Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia. I am deeply moved and proud by the faith you have put on me, which at the same time bestows upon me a heavy task that I will shoulder to the best of my physical, spiritual and intellectual ability to serve the motherland and people of the Kingdom of Cambodia and bring them personal and moral well being, a better living standard, prosperity and the return to glory of the sacred motherland of Cambodia under the Very High Guidance of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK and Her Majesty NORODOM MONINEATH, King and Queen of Cambodia.
All subjects from different generations seek the protection of Their Majesties and remain always grateful to Their Majesties for Their immense dedication to Their people in Their long and tireless mission to bring about national independence and full sovereignty to Cambodia within its territorial integrity, especially, strong national unity and social peace to the Nation which have made the Kingdom of Cambodia in the 50s and the 60s a civilized nation, well known all over the world as the Switzerland of Asia and the beauty of the capital city of Phnom Penh which was once compared to Paris. Under the clear-sighted policy of Sangkum Reastr Niyum of His Majesty the King, Cambodia then enjoyed a strong and prosperous agriculture with a burgeoning industry.
Samdech, Lok Chumteav, Excellencies,
The devastation brought by prolonged war and conflict which have inflicted upon Cambodia untold miseries, brings us following important experiences that:
This is to emphasize that when all political forces are united with the Royal Government, the entire national society steps forward at a quick pace.
In becoming the First Prime Minister, I would like to present to Lok Chumteav, Your Excellencies, eminent Members of the National Assembly and all distinguished guests my personal views as follows:
I am determined to try by all means to make the Kingdom of Cambodia a genuine State governed by the rule of law with strong political, legal, economic and social institutions, which are the pillars of hope for every citizen. All citizens must be again united in solidarity to rehabilitate the Nation and enjoy the same opportunities irrespective of their classes. These noble tasks can be fulfilled only when we are all united under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and respect the Constitution both in letter and spirit.
In this spirit, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the National Assembly and the entire Government as well as the judiciary must respect the principle of liberal multi-partite democracy, respect all Agreements signed by the Supreme National Council and the Royal Government of Cambodia between 1990-1993 and 1993-1997, including the Agreements on A Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict signed in Paris on 23 October 1991 and Human Rights Conventions.
The Coalition Government must continue, having the two major parties as the main pillars-FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). As the First Prime Minister representing FUNCINPEC Party, I am determined to maintain a healthy partnership with CPP, keep close consultation and coordination of all activities for the country, and our nation as a whole, and in particular, for the sake of national unity, political stability, nation wide security and national economic reconstruction. Our FUNCINPEC Party with myself as the First Head of the Government, is determined to cease all armed conflicts, violence and other dishonest activities which fuel social instability and catastrophe in the long run.
Samdech, Lok Chumteav, Excellencies Members of the National Assembly, Distinguished Guests,
From now up to the election time, the Royal Government of Cambodia has a very busy schedule to tackle many urgent issues:
The main task of the Royal Government continues to be to re-establish and strengthen the country's political, economic and social institutions. The Royal Government of Cambodia faced many daunting challenges, needing simultaneous and bold initiatives, in several fields and sectors, in order to consolidate national reconciliation, and to "jump-start" socioeconomic recovery and growth.
In order to ensure that these long-term policies and strategies contained in the NPRD, the Royal Government of Cambodia has established a series of other major economic policy formulation and implementation instruments within the framework of the National Public Investment Plan (SEDP) for 1996-2000, the three-year rolling Public Investment Program (PIP) for 1997-1999, the Policy Framework Paper (PFP) for 1997-1999, the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) and the Financial Law which includes the Public Investment Budgeting (PIB) process.
The overall vision, policies, strategies, programs and projects enshrined in these documents remain fully valid. I would like to reassure you that the Royal Government will make every effort to secure a successful implementation of these policies and programs.
In this stabilized environment, the economy continued to grow rapidly, reaching nearly 7% last year. Such a performance deserves the accolade "remarkable" when compared to other countries facing similar circumstances of post-conflict national recovery and reconstruction. Of course, the large-scale external funding in the past four years have helped Cambodia immensely. We are forever grateful to our external partners for this. But the achievements received so far also reflect Cambodia strong devotion, determination and discipline that ultimately led us to such success in our efforts. It is true, the last four years have shown tremendous macro-economic progress.
The Government economic and financial policies over the next few years will be geared towards consolidating macroeconomic stability and laying a solid foundation for sustained development. The key elements of these policies are:
The Government's medium term macroeconomic objectives include: maintaining annual output growth at about 7%, containing annual inflation at 1-digit level preferably at 5%, and strengthening international reserve position. The targeted output growth is predicated on a continuation of strict fiscal discipline to maintain financial stability and a significant increase in investment. This will require a substantial improvement in domestic saving as well as steady inflow from official sources should gradually diminish, but remain substantial in view of the massive reconstruction needs.
For the short term, the Royal Government recognizes the importance of several key shortfalls that need immediate attention. These are:
To effectively address these issues, the Royal Government is firmly committed to specific measures in several areas. First, the law on taxation will be vigorously enforced. Secondly, the generous tax exemptions not specifically provided by law will be eliminated. Furthermore, in order to clarify the scope of various incentives to be provided to investors, the Royal Government will soon adopt the Sub-decree on the implementing regulation for the Law on Investment. Thirdly, taking into consideration the need to comply with the ASEAN/AFTA requirements, the Royal Government of Cambodia is determined to deepen and broaden the tax base to reach the maximum possible targets for tax collection by the end of the year.
With respect to the forestry issue, the Royal Government is now introducing concrete measures for more effective control over illegal logging activities and for full market pricing in logging concession. As of now, investors pay a very low price for logging concessions in Cambodia comparing to the international standard. In addition, a system for closer monitoring of logging practices and the strict enforcement of more sustainable harvesting practices is also in the process being put in place to bring uncontrolled and illegal logging activities into a sustainable framework.
In demobilization, our major effort in the immediate term, for which we already have assured donor support, is to start and complete the process of full registration of all the serving personnel. From the database to be established, a pilot demobilization scheme will commence to test out principles and strategies for moving veterans into useful vocations and occupations in civil society. A more complete demobilization will commence thereafter and will be completed in the course of two to three years.
In public administration reform, we recognize that meaningful progress can be made only after the 1998 elections. However, there are some technical aspects, which can be carried out now, including preparation of a technically sound reform program.
I would like to conclude this topic by underlining the fact that with a clear view of the overall goals and processes earlier mentioned as well as with strong determination and nation wide discipline; the Royal Government of Cambodia has achieved significant results since early 1994. However, there are still many challenges ahead and problems to be overcome. The success so far has been greatly facilitated by the generous support from external partners-bilateral, multi-lateral and NGOs-by way of technical advice, expertise and funds for capital investments. The Royal Government of Cambodia once again records its acknowledgment and deep appreciation for this excellent support. Cambodia seeks from her external partners continued goodwill and assistance in the true spirit of partnership for the orderly development.
In this context, I would also like to take the opportunity to reassure the international community that their help will not only be an investment for Cambodia, but also the surest antidote to promote and assure peace, stability, security and overall prosperity. Their investments will also fuel growth in trade, commerce and interaction in the region and with the rest of the world. The Royal Government fully understands that Cambodia has to work hard to deserve their kind assistance and we will also be accountable to the taxpayer of their countries. To the end, the Royal Government is strongly committed to the revitalization of the reform process already started.
The foreign policy of the Royal Government of Cambodia must continue to respect and protect the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and, first of all to protect the national unity and defend the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia as one sole and undivided State.
This work can be pursued only by following the road of national reconciliation, good neighborliness with countries bordering the Kingdom of Cambodia and having active cooperation in all fields with all countries around the world.
As an evidence hereto, when I was Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Kingdom of Cambodia could restore diplomatic relations as well as established new friendly relations with 107 countries in the world, 50 of which have already appointed their Ambassadors, while three other have appointed their Chargés d'Affaires to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In my capacity as the First Prime Minister, I pledge to strengthen and develop good relations with all countries in the world, especially with our brotherly neighbors. There is no issue that cannot be settled through negotiations based on the principle of equality and other principles stipulated in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 1971.
In this spirit, on behalf of Samdech Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister, I would like to reassure to you, Lok Chumteav, Excellencies, Members of the National Assembly and honored Guests that the Kingdom of Cambodia remains firm and unchanged in her desire to join the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as full Member, as Cambodia is one house in the same region and sees wide ranging interests in becoming a Member of this Family.
The Kingdom of Cambodia will make all possible efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other major international organizations with an aim to integrating herself into regional and world economy.
Samdech Lok Chumtiev, Excellencies,
The Royal Government continues to stress the importance it attaches to the holding of general elections in a free, democratic, just and fair manner in respect of the spirit of the Constitution on the agreed date of May 23, 1998.
In so doing, the two major coalition parties within the Royal Government, FUNCINPEC and CPP, together with other political parties in the Kingdom of Cambodia will closely work together to enable a timely proceeding of the said elections in abidance to legal requirements so as to be really democratic, free, just and fair in nature. The whole destiny of the Nation is fully dependent on whether the political competition could take place in a peaceful manner within the framework of law.
For the sake of a long lasting and stable national society, I am also determined to demand for genuine democracy and a genuine State governed by the rules of law which require democratic, just and fair election of people's representatives on May 23, 1998.
The timetable set down for the elections will not be easily achieved, but this timetable still possible now that the main parties which comprise the National Assembly have pledged themselves again to fulfill their responsibilities to the electorate. The National Assembly must debate and pass an election law, which will define the nature of the election. The law must also set in place the machinery to register voters and conduct those elections and prevent any electoral abuse. That machinery must quickly be brought up to full speed.
The crucial task of registering new voters must begin in a timely fashion. The Government has decided on the appropriate systems to conduct the registration process and has been grateful for the advice and assistance of Australia, the European Commission, France and the United States amongst others, and it has sought the assistance of the United Nations in providing some hardware assistance. The Government hopes that the United States will soon lift its embargo on further assistance to the Cambodian Bureau of Elections.
Once registration is completed, the way will be open to hold a general election to let the Cambodian electorate determine the nature and composition of their leadership for the following five years.
To day is a day that I consider to be highly valuable for all of us the Khmer people. I avail myself of this solemn occasion to affirm some of my feelings as a Khmer citizen to our Venerable monks, our elderly and wise people, all government officials and staff, both in the military and civil service, all citizens, be they workers, farmers, traders etc., our young pupils and students who have given their confidence to me through their representatives to serve the Nation in the high position as the First Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
First of all, and in addition to the above statement, allow me to inform you that I have been well known to our citizens everywhere in 1994, when I was able to serve our nation as the Minister of Education, in which I gained the cooperation from teachers, students' parents in abolishing all obstructive activities in the field of education, namely corruption practices during various examinations that year. Altogether we achieved 100% success for the nation, which no eminent person, including myself, could imagine that it would be possible.
This obviously proves that:
All the above mentioned are the duties of every Cambodia citizen, and especially of the Heads of the Royal Government of Cambodia. I am fully and clearly convinced that the Second Prime Minister will give his approval, his close and effective cooperation in his capacity as a good patriot son of Cambodia having sufficient years of experience in serving the nation. Moreover, I need the support and close cooperation of the entire leadership, government officials at all levels, from provinces and districts, and from every Cambodian citizen in my mission to rehabilitate Cambodia towards achieving prosperity, happiness, genuine democracy and basic freedom, among others, respect of human rights as stipulated in the Human Rights Convention of the United Nations.
Last but not least, I would like to pledge and reaffirm my firm determination to cooperate with all parties in Cambodia, particularly the Cambodian People's Party, in organizing free and fair elections. I call upon all Cambodian citizens to give our nation a chance by preventing any kind of threats, intimidation, or killings during the next elections. It is natural to lose or to win in democracy. As for myself I, now solemnly promise before all Cambodian citizens that I will happily hand over the post of First Prime Minister to any eminent person who will receive the trust by the people in the universal election on May 23, 1998 in the belief that education through vivid example can make democracy take deep root in Cambodia for the sake of a bright future of the country under the clear sighted leadership of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK, Father of the entire nation of Cambodia.
Once again, I wish to express my deep gratitude to Samdech, Lok Chumtiev, and Excellencies Members of National Assembly who have given me their trust to be First Prime Minister. This important and heavy duty could be fulfilled with success when filled with the spirits of consultation, coordination and close cooperation with Samdech the Second Prime Minister and the CPP which are an important partner in the political life of Cambodia. Both Samdech the Second Prime Minister and me will use all our physical, moral and spiritual capacities to gradually strengthen political stability in Cambodia in the framework of liberal multipartite democracy and a free market economy.
May Samdech, Lok Chumtiev, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen be endowed with the five Buddhist blessings: longevity, distinction, happiness, good health, strength and personal success.
Thank you for your kind attention.