Cambodia seeks Australia's assistance in electoral reform

English.news.cn   2014-02-22 16:42:56

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (R) shakes hands with visiting Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 22, 2014. Hor Namhong said Saturday that there is no political impasse in Cambodia despite the ongoing post-election dispute between the ruling and opposition parties. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen asked Australia on Saturday to help the country with electoral reform.
The premier made the request when he met with visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told a joint press conference after meeting with Bishop.
"The Prime Minister requested Australia to send experts to help electoral reform in Cambodia," he said.
Bishop accepted the proposal, saying that Australia stood ready to consider assisting Cambodia in this task.
Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy' s opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have been locked in a dispute over the July 2013 election results which showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats and the CNRP got the rest 55 seats.
Claiming serious irregularities in the poll, the CNRP has refused to accept the outcome, boycotted parliament and staged violent protest to push for step-down of Hun Sen and reelection.
On Feb. 18, the CPP and the CNRP reached an agreement to form a joint committee for an electoral reform aimed at free and fair elections in the future.
Bishop said the agreement was a positive step towards resolving political dispute in Cambodia and encouraged the two parties to continue dialogue for a peaceful solution.
Hor Namhong said there is no political impasse in Cambodia despite ongoing post-election dispute between the ruling and opposition parties.
"I would like to stress that there is no political deadlock in Cambodia," he said. "All the state's institutions are functioning normally."
He said all actions taken by the government of Cambodia in the past, at the present and in the future would be in accordance with the constitution and laws of Cambodia.
He added that the CNRP should join the National Assembly to discuss their demand for an electoral reform instead of taking to the street.
Bishop arrived here on Friday for a three-day visit to further promote bilateral ties and cooperation between Australia and Cambodia.

Editor: Mengjie