SIEM REAP: While speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 38 roads in Siem Reap on Monday morning (4 April), Prime Minister Hun Sen, said that in 1998, the country became unified for the first time in history under a win-win policy. Before this, since 1970, Cambodia had always been controlled by more than two armed groups.

Prime Minister Hun Sen mentioned the quest for peace, which gave him the opportunity to undergo the historic mission of bringing territorial unity for the first time in the history of Cambodia, under the win-win policy. He said this has also given him the opportunity to lead the Kingdom of Cambodia to develop from one stage to another, until now, when good livelihoods are guaranteed.

The Prime Minister described how before 1970, Cambodia had four different armed groups, including the Khmer Rouge, the Khmer blue, the Khmer white, and the Khmer government (the People's Socialist Community government). From 1970 to 1975, the country became divided into two parts, one area under Lon Nol rule and the other, an area liberated by the Cambodian National United Front led by King Norodom Sihanouk.

The Prime Minister continued that from 1975 to 1979, Cambodia fell under the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, but despite not being able to completely control the territory, there were still armed movements to fight against the regime such as in Koh Kong, where such activity increased in the northeast, and the Prime Minister himself also rose up against Pol Pot.

He added that from 1979 to 1993, Cambodia had four jurisdictions, and from 1993 to 1998, Cambodia had two jurisdictions and two governments, between those implementing the Paris Agreement, which controlled most of the territory, and the Khmer Rouge which still had control over the Cambodian-Thai border and some other areas such as Kampot, Takeo, Kampong Speu and along the Tonle Sap.

With that said, the Prime Minister emphasized that under his win-win policy, the nation became united for the first time in its history.

The Prime Minister stated that it was very difficult for Cambodia to find peace, and the lives of the people who go for peace are very fragile without the sincere participation of different armed groups, making it very difficult to maintain peace as well.

He said, "To ignite the war, Lon Nol decided to stage a coup to overthrow Norodom Sihanouk. It only took a few minutes, but we ended the war in 1998. The war was a tragedy for our country, it caused millions Before the president of Ukraine, how many Ukrainians who called for peace? But now both presidents are calling for peace with millions of refugees."

Finally, the Prime Minister briefly stated that what he needs to continue doing going forward is to keep the peace.