Phnom Penh: In a telephone conversation between the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Prak Sokhon, and Ms. Penny Wong, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia on June 7, 2022, Mr. Prak Sokhon Rejects Accusations Concerning Ream Naval Base.
In response to Foreign Minister Penny Wong's inquiry about the recent news spreading out by some media outlets concerning Ream Naval Base, Deputy PM PRAK Sokhon rejected these groundless accusations against Cambodia, reiterating Cambodia's firm adherence to the Constitution of Cambodia, which does not permit foreign military base. or presence on Cambodian soil and underlined that the renovation of the base served solely to strengthen the country's naval capacities to protect its maritime integrity and combat crimes. He touched on the good gesture by Cambodian government in allowing the foreign military attaches in Phnom Penh to visit Ream Naval Base that is unprecedented in practice by any country vis-à-vis its military base.
Deputy PM PRAK Sokhonn also underlined that Prime Minister Hun Sen took the opportunity of the recent ASEAN-US Summit in Washington, DC to reaffirms, Cambodia's commitment to strictly abide by the provisions of the Constitution of Cambodia which does not permit any foreign military base on Cambodia's territory response to the concerns about Ream Naval Base.
During discussion about Myanmar crisis, Deputy PM PRAK Sokhonn briefed Foreign Minister Penny Wong on his first visit to Myanmar on 21-22 March 2022 in his capacity as Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair, saying it has paved the way for the next appropriate steps to bring about progress on 3 immediate priorities for the implementation of the 5PC: (1) Cessation of violence, (2) Ensuring timely delivery of humanitarian assistance without discrimination, and (3) Building conducive environment for an inclusive political dialogue to resolve Myanmar crisis.
The Deputy PM also highlighted the three main outcomes achieved by the Consultative Meeting on Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar hosted by Cambodia on 6 May 2022, namely: (1) The Arrangement Framework for the delivery of ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance, (2) Addressing the operational challenges of delivering humanitarian assistance and (3) Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Operational teams. He also made known of the arrangement for his tentative second visit to Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong thanked Deputy PM PRAK Sokhonn for sharing information and clarification. The two Foreign Ministers looked forward to the opportunity to meet again soon.
