Samdech Patriarchs of the Two Buddhist Sects and Buddhist Monks
Samdech Krom Preah, President of FUNCINPEC and HRH Princess Norodom Marie Ranaridh
Samdech, HRH Princes/Princesses
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Today I have a great honor and pleasure to join Samdech, HRH Princes/Princesses, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen in the opening of the Extraordinary Congress of FUNCINPEC. May I convey to Samdech, HRH Princes/Princess, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen the congratulation and best wishes from leaders and members of the Cambodian People’s Party.
National and international circles have been monitoring with their utmost interests the Extraordinary Congress of FUNCINPEC being held at this moment. They all are awaiting with eagerness to comprehend and to learn the positive results that the congress is going to set out in its endeavors to formulate policy and strategy of reforms aimed at strengthening FUNCINPEC and consolidating the long lasting partnership between the Cambodian People’s Party and FUNCINPEC, which is a major key in guaranteeing Cambodia’s peace, stability, order, progress and prosperity.
As a faithful partner, the Cambodian People’s Party wishes to express its truthful congratulations and wishes for FUNCINPEC’s brilliantly great victory in conducting the Extraordinary Congress.
In the very near future, the Cambodian People’s Party will also organize its congress. In our agenda, the strengthening of a long lasting partnership with FUNCINPEC is one of the prioritized important discussions. This reflects a common aim and will of our two parties aimed at furthering closer bonds of alliance, solidarity and cooperation at all levels in both the Royal Government and legislative and other state institutions in the spirit of national reconciliation, unification, national unity, democracy, while gathering all forces of patriotism to work together for the sake of peace, stability and public order, and to restore and to develop the country in our utmost aim to heighten well being and living condition of the people.
Samdech Patriarchs of the Two Buddhist Sects and Buddhist Monks
Samdech Krom Preah, President of FUNCINPEC and HRH Princess Norodom Marie Ranaridh
Samdech, HRH Princes/Princesses
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Over the last decade FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People’s Party have come across uncountable challenges, while collecting numerous political experiences and lessons together. Our rich experiences indicate clearly the indispensability in the leading role of our two Parties in a political process of the Cambodian society. Whenever our two parties are strong and reconciling in their leadership of the state and national construction, the country and its people will certainly be enjoying peace, stability, social order and harmonized progress. On the contrary, when any of the two Parties is in a weakening position, and the partnership between our two Parties becomes destabilized because of any factor it may be the whole society of Cambodia would definitely be suffering divisiveness, uncertainty or socio-economic upheaval, while the rule of law and democratization would be placed in the state of stagnations and the opportunity for progress and development would be weakened, pessimism and fear be prevailing. That is why the purpose of the Cambodian People’s Party and FUNCINPEC as well as firmness of the long lasting alliance between the two Parties would inevitably be the prime interest of the country and its people. It is in this meaning that I have said time and again that the two Parties should consider their partner’s firmness being their most important interest, while making all out efforts in the spirit of faithful partner on the basis of legal principle and democracy aimed at strengthening and promoting one another.
It is true that some circles are not satisfied with unshakable firmness of FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People’s Party. They all are dissatisfied with the long lasting, close and firm alliance of the two Parties because these points are contrary to their short-term political interest. However I comprehend that it is a good fortune for the country and people of Cambodia that this destabilizing tendency could not absolutely win over the brilliant wisdom of the leaders of our two Parties in several stages of hardships in the Cambodian political process over the past decade.
In fact the developments after the parliamentary elections for the third legislature in July 2003 has been a major test of maturity of politicians and major political parties in Cambodia, especially for the Cambodian People’s Party and FUNCINPEC. After active discussion for a period close to one year, the two political parties – the Cambodian People’s Party and FUNCINPEC, have broken down political impasse, formulating new coalition Royal Government while the third legislature parliament has been set up and working actively.
It is worth indicating once again the supreme significance of the national reconciliation, mutual concession and the respect of legal principle and democracy of the two Parties in attaining political settlement that are indispensable factors for safeguarding peace, stability and certainty of social life for the country and people as politics and democracy is the art of making concession between individuals, between contradictory views and opinions and paths for the sake of achieving a common cause.
Certainly the above achievements are realized because our two Parties show their political maturity, considering national cause more important than short-term political interest and benefit of all the parties. In this context I wish to indicate the special and key role of Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranaridh the President of FUNCINPEC in his participation in breaking through the impasse in formulating the new Royal Government and National Assembly nearly one year after the third legislature parliamentary election in July 2003 and in overcoming complicated challenges after the establishment of the new Royal Government up to the present. Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranaridh not only took a courageous and just decision aimed at evading the post-election crisis, which constitutes a tremendous gratitude for our nation and FUNCINPEC, but more importantly with a brilliant wisdom and close cooperation with leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party, while he provided numerous important and invaluable contributions for a smooth and peaceful solution of all problems that is vital to our nation, for instance the continuity of the throne, etc.
Taking these experiences and political lessons from the past that I have mentioned above and having seen the invaluable character as a leader of Samdech Krom Preah, the Cambodian People’s Party declares its position from before the July-2003 election that on winning the elections, the Cambodian People’s Party would organize a new Royal Government only with FUNCINPEC that is under the leadership of Samdech Krom Preah. This position has become a reality at this moment and a long-term position of the Cambodian People’s Party because we have known obviously that peace and social stability in all fields and sectors are the most important and scarce opportunity for progress, prosperity and well being of our people.
(Comments) – Just now Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranaridh, President of FUNCINPEC, on its behalf, declares the FUNCINPEC’s support to me – Hun Sen – for the post of Prime Minister in case the Cambodian People’s Party wins the forthcoming election for the next term. In response to this, on behalf of the Cambodian People’s Party, (I declare) the CPP’s support to Samdech Krom Preah for the post of Prime Minister in case FUNCINPEC wins the elections. Let me once again affirm that if it were not because of the key role played by Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranaridh, with my cooperation in the past, the country’s situation would not have been this peaceful, politically stable and developed as it is now.
Samdech Patriarchs of the Two Buddhist Sects and Buddhist Monks
Samdech Krom Preah, President of FUNCINPEC and HRH Princess Norodom Marie Ranaridh
Samdech, HRH Princes/Princesses
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Peace and stability is the most precious but it is difficult to realize and especially not easy to maintain. Concession is key for the safeguarding of a peaceful coexistence, cooperation and getting-rid of internal division and other hostile actions. It is therefore that we – the Cambodian People’s Party – consider that continuing and strengthening of cooperation between our two Parties a golden opportunity for Cambodian motherland in safeguarding peace and stability, while healing the wound that is left after decades of war.
We all know that humanity can achieve progress through energetic and ever changing interactions and balance among important factors ranging from politics, security, socio-economics and other factors, as well as environment. If we were to stress on one factor if not the other, that would then cause tension, possibly leading to division, negative outcome, backwardness and loss of stability. A harmonious adjustment in and between important factors was a prime condition for economic growth and development. Only concession and unity on common national objectives between political leaders and major political parties, based on the legal principle and democracy and through means of negotiation that the country could realize peace, stability, economic growth and development.
It is on this philosophical basis that after taking office on July 16, 2004, in my capacity as Prime Minister, I have led the first new Cabinet meeting which put out the “Economic Action Agenda of the Political Platform of the Third Legislation Parliament” titled “Rectangular Strategy” for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency in Cambodia. This strategy has been organized on the basis of the political platform that was agreed upon between our two Parties in our cooperation to set up the Royal Government taking good governance as its core, serving as tool of the Royal Government of Cambodia for promoting the implementation of a wide ranging and comprehensive reform agenda while keeping aloft the objective for reducing poverty of the people as its prime political priority.
The result of the implementation of the reforms will bring about progress and prosperity to the people of Cambodia, strengthening national security, national reconciliation, peace and stability in the country and in the region, including efforts to expand and push further economic activities, tourism, trade, investment, cultural exchange and good relations in the region.
Samdech Patriarchs of the Two Buddhist Sects and Buddhist Monks
Samdech Krom Preah, President of FUNCINPEC and HRH Princess Norodom Marie Ranaridh
Samdech, HRH Princes/Princesses
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
With full and constant determination of the two political Parties, I have a strong belief that the Kingdom of Cambodia will take further and swift steps in the current of energetic changes in the region and in the world. Our country has gone beyond the darkness of its recent history and is looking forward to pride and confidence for a prosperous and brilliant future. Working closely with an aim to strengthen peace, national reconciliation, democracy, rule of law, respect of human rights and dignity for Cambodia’s long lasting and equitable socio-economic development, our two Parties has an historic chance, an ideal task and supreme responsibility in leading the Cambodian society towards realizing national ambition i.e. the sustainable development and harmony and the guarantee that Cambodia can master its own destiny on an equal footing and equal rights in all regional and international works in the name of a nation that deserves respect and appreciation.
Before ending this speech I would like to express my profound thanks for FUNCINPEC and especially for Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranaridh for inviting the delegation of the Cambodian People’s Party to participate in the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary Congress of FUNCINPEC today. This clearly notes the importance and necessity of the top-to-bottom cooperation between our two Parties – from leaders to communal and village levels of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the sake of developing our nation towards progress on the basis of a joint responsibility.
Finally I would like to extend my wish once again to members of the Extraordinary Congress of FUNCINPEC for a satisfied brilliant success and for Samdech Krom Preah President of FUNCINPEC, HRH Princes/Princesses, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen the five Buddhist blessings./.
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