Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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Attached is an ASEAN Statement on Cambodia which the Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof S Jayakumar, has issued after consulting the other ASEAN Foreign Ministers. In this Statement, ASEAN recalled its efforts to assist in the restoration of political stability in Cambodia and:

• urges all parties to exercise restraint, avoid violence and resolve their problems through dialogue and consultations in order to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.

• calls on all parties to resolve their difference in the spirit of national reconciliation and unity so that a new National Assembly could soon vote on a new Government.

• hopes that all parties will try to build on the achievement that they themselves have made so far on the restoration of political normalcy, especially after the 26 July 1998 elections.

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In view of the increasing tension in Phnom Penh, ASEAN urges all parties concerned to respect the results of the 26 July 1998 general elections which were generally recognised by the international community as free and fair, as well as to exercise restraint, avoid violence, including extremist acts, and resolve their problems through dialogue and consultations in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

In this connection, ASEAN reiterates its call in the ASEAN Statement on Cambodia on 4 September 1998 on all parties concerned in Cambodia to resolve their differences in the spirit of national reconciliation and unity so that a new National Assembly could soon vote on a new Government, thus contributing to the peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

It is to be recalled that at the request of the Cambodian Government, ASEAN – through the ASEAN Troika – has been engaging, with cooperation and support from the international community, in efforts to assist in the restoration of political stability in Cambodia. ASEAN thus hopes that all Cambodian parties will try to build on the achievements that they themselves have made so far on the restoration of political normalcy, internal order and the national reconciliation process, especially after the 26 July 1998 elections.

  ASEAN strongly supports His Majesty King Sihanouk’s role in solving the present situation so that Cambodia would soon form a new government that fulfills the aspirations of the Cambodian people and the desire of the countries in the region.

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9 September 1998