… Taking this auspicious occasion please allow me to express my congratulations, through HE Ambassador of France, to the people and the new Government of France as well as to HE Jacques Chirac personally for his electoral victory. This clearly illustrates considerable confidence that the people of France place in him and it also is a democratic procedure with different choices. What impressed us most was the fact that the French people rejected the extreme right, which could be compared to what Pol Pot had done in the past.
… I think I am taking pride when talking about the French-Cambodian relations. The Cambodian people warmly congratulate HE Jacques Chirac in his presidential election victory after seven years in power. I wish to share with all Cambodians today that HE President Jacques Chirac used to be involved in assisting Cambodia since the 1980s. He was then Mayor of Paris. He had provided assistance to Phnom Penh City. What we could remember were garbage-collecting trucks that are still in operation in Phnom Penh.
… I used to meet him in his office at the Paris Municipality. And I also had a chance to host him in Phnom Penh once. He was also involved in the first meeting between HM the King Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and myself in Fere-en Tardenois on December 2, 1987. He was then Prime Minister of France. In 1999 I have met him again when he became the President of the Republic of France at the presidential palace – Elysee. A number of cooperative projects were presented and discussed. Also present was out-going Prime Minister Leonel Jospin who also actively involved in the assistance given to the renovation of the Calmette Hospital.
… HE Hospital Director Heng Taikry has already mentioned in his report that I have made various proposals for the former French Ambassadors to provide this hospital a scanner machine. The French leaders have approved the request and the installation of which we are celebrating here today. We strongly hope that in his new term, President Chirac will give more interest in its assistance to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
… Also next week, we will inaugurate a dyke built to prevent salt water from encroaching upon cultivative area in Prey Nub district of Preah Sihanoukville. The dyke was built with the assistance from France and a new achievement in the relations between our two countries. Once again may I ask HE Ambassador of France a favor to convey my congratulations to the super majority result for President Chirac…
