Your Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
Samdech Akka Moha Thormak Pothisal Chea Sim, President of the Senate,
Samdech Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly,
Your Excellencies Members of the Senate, Assembly and the Royal Government,
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and Distinguished Quests,
Dear Compatriots,
On this solemn occasion to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the National Independence’s Day on 9th November andthe anniversary of establishment of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, on behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Thormak PothisalChea Sim, President of the Senate and Samdech Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, I am extremely excited to participate with all our people, especially the people in Phnom Penh, to celebrate this grand meeting with mass parade in order to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the National Independence’s Day 9th November and the anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It is the historical day of the declaration of the full independence of Cambodia under the royal crusade and the noble mission of His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the Heroic King-Father for Independence, Territorial Integrity and Khmer Unity, to claim independence from the French colonization in 1953.
All Cambodian people and myself always remember in our hearts the compassion and great sympathy of His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, who has physically and mentally sacrificed for the causes of national independence, integrity, happiness and prosperity of the society with priceless achievement until today as well as paving the way for peace, development and solidarity for the whole Cambodian society, which we, as your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, have always followed up this noble development path. This priceless, deepest and greatest compassion has been carved in the golden page of the Cambodian history, which will never ever be deleted, by all Cambodians.
I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Her Majesty Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the Heroic Queen-Mother for Freedom, Dignity and Happiness, who has always stayed near, followed and supported His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk in the noble royal missions for the causes of our nation and people.
At the same time, I would like to express my deepest sentiment and loyalty to His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who has always continued to pursue noble royal mission of the King-Father and fully supported the Royal Government for the causes of national peace, stability, extensive solidarity, social progress and the promotion of the livelihood, welfare and harmonization of the people.
Along with the 55th anniversary of the National Independence’s Day today, we also celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of our brave Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, established by His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the Heroic King-Father for National Independence, who have been fulfilling their noble mission to maintain peace, territorial integrity and happiness of the people, as well as to protect various temples of national relics, that are great heritage of Cambodian ancestors, from any aggression.
Taking this precious moment, I would like to extend my profound appreciation and respects to officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who have fully supported the government’s policies; firmly respected the constitution as well as laws and regulations issued by the government; and uncomplainingly transformed themselves into the armed forces with order, honor, dignity and bravery to be the real children of the people and sacrifice their lives in fulfilling their noble mission.
Along with this, I would also like to convey my sincere appreciation to the officers and police of the General Commissariat of National Police under the Ministry of Interior for your immense mission to protect the nation, internal security, social order and people’s welfare by going through all kinds of obstacles along with invaluable sacrifice.
Taking this great opportunity, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect to all compatriots who sacrifice your beloved husbands and relatives to let them serve in the armed forces to protect our land, and I would like to convey my heartfelt greetings and regards to all soldier families, including the families of disabled, dead and demobilized soldiers.
I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my profound appreciation to Venerable Monks, Samdech, Excellencies, Oknhas, Ladies and Gentlemen, public servants, and all Cambodian people who have given your full support to the Government in the causes of protecting the nation, peace, stability, social order and sustainable development by actively and tirelessly contributing in the forms of mental, physical, materials or financials support without regret under the nation’s motto“Nation Religion King”.
Base on Cambodia’s capacity and real needs, the Royal Government of the 4th legislature will carry on the implementation of armed forces reform in order to ensure the effective protection of sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and social order of which the priority is to transform our armed forces; to be professionally-skilled, capable to succeed and well-equipped with technologies and equipments; to firmly respect law, regulations and human rights; to be loyal to Nation Religion King and willing to make all sacrifices in order to protect territorial integrity, national interests and people; and to further strengthening social and professional ethics to enhance confidence on our armed forces.
Cambodia has been enjoying the fruits of peace and full territorial unity and integrity as the result of the “Win-Win Policy” of the Royal Government as evidenced by high economic growth and poverty reduction over the past decade. Cambodia has integrated into the region and the world and plays a dynamic role on equal footing and with equal rights in various sub-regional, regional, inter-regional and international organizations. Peace, full territorial unity and political stability, unseen for decades, allows Cambodia to implement its reform programs in all sectors to re-build institutional capacities, strengthen socio-economic infrastructure, and create a highly conducive climate to attract investments from both domestic and overseas sources to enable strong economic growth and poverty reduction. Based on the prudent and interlinked implementation of public finance and monetary policies in combination with the free market policy, the Royal Government has realized macro-economic stability and favorable conditions for development. Double digit growth within the last 4 years has created jobs, increased people’s income, improved production and productivity both in terms of quantity and quality, and reduced poverty rate from around 35% in 2004 to 30% in late 2007. Governance has also been improved. The quality and coverage of public services have been improved and expanded respectively to address the people’s actual needs.
Once again, the outcome of the General Election on 27th July 2008, which was nationally and internationally deemed as free, fair and transparent, clearly reflects the full and authentic support from the majority of people to the elected government to carry on leading the country on the path of development and reform in all sectors towards progress and prosperity. Therefore, the Royal Government of the 4th Legislature is obliged to carry on its historic and noble mission to accelerate development progress and the implementation of deepening and comprehensive reforms. In this spirit, the Royal Government has laid out and determined to successfully implement the “Rectangular Strategy” for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency — Phase II which is the “Socio-economic Policy Agenda” of the “Political Platform of the Royal Government of the fourth legislature of the National Assembly”.
Cambodia is entering a new era with full hopes about its bright future prospect regarding country development and rehabilitation in all sectors through enhancing the implementation of various specific measures to realize the four prioritized objectives during the 4th Legislature as stipulated in the “Rectangular Strategy-Phase II” including:
1. Ensuring sustainable peace, political stability, safety, and social order which aimed at promoting the rule of law, respecting human rights and dignity and liberal multi-party democracy.
2. Ensuring sustainable long-term economic growth at around 7% per year on a broader and more competitive economic base in the context of low, single-digit inflation.
3. Ensuring the poverty reduction at a rate of over 1% per annum, and the improvement of main social indicators, especially in education, health and gender equity.
4. Ensuring a credible and broader coverage, efficiency and quality of public services.
The Royal Government clearly understood that the four prioritized objectives mentioned above are highly ambitious, especially, in the current context of deepening global financial and economic crisis. Indeed, poverty reduction is a task which can not be addressed in a single day or even a year. However, base on the experiences and various achievements we have obtained so far with our unwavering aspiration and determination as well as the broad sense of national unity in enhancing the implementation of sustainable and interconnected activities in all fields, we are strongly optimistic that our nation can achieve together the vision of building Cambodia to become a country with peace, political stability, security, social order and sustainable and equitable development, as well as strictly respecting the principles of liberal multi-party democracy, human rights and dignity, having interconnected cells and highly educated citizens living in harmony in the society and family. All of these aspects will contribute to ensure national independency and sovereignty and will upgrade the Kingdom of Cambodia’s image in the international arena.
Finally, I would like to extend my greatest whishes to His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the Heroic King-Father for Independence, Territorial Integrity, and Khmer Unity, Her Majesty Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the Heroic Queen-Mother for Peace, Dignity and Happiness, and His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia with good physical and mental health and longevity.
I would also like to whish Samdech, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, armed forces and all the people with the Four Gems of Buddhist Blessing.
EndItenm.
