Kampuchean negotiations suggested.

Kampuchean negotiations suggested

Negotiations aimed at rebuilding a "peaceful, independent, democratic, sovereign, neutral and non-aligned Kampuchea" have been proposed by Prince Norodom Sihanouk of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea and Hun Sen of the Phnom Penh regime.

In a joint, four-point communique issued in December after their first meeting since the conflict began nine years ago, the two sides indicated they had reached agreement on the need for a political solution to the problem, which must be found by the "Kampuchean people themselves through negotiations between the warring parties".

The two met in France from 2 to 4 December 1987; a second round of talks was held on 20-21 January. On 25 January, Prince Sihanouk met with Rafeeuddin Ahmed, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs in South-East Asia, to discuss recent developments. He asked that the Secretary-General continue to exercise his good offices in the search for comprehensive political settlement.

In the joint communique, Prince Sihanouk and Hun Sen also suggested that at the conclusion of an accord among the Cambodian parties, an international conference be convened to guarantee the accord as well as Kampuchean independence and peace and stability in South-East Asia.

Massamba Sarre of Senegal, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Interntional Conference on Kampuchea, reporting to the body on 12 January, said that other Kampuchean parties--the groups of Khieu Samphan and of a Son Sann--were asked to join in the negotiations in order to reach a rapid solution to the problem.

Mr. Sarre also said that Viet Nam and the USSR had expressed support for a dialogue among different factions. China had stated that Prince Sihanouk would preserve the interests of Kampucheans, stressing that the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops was essential for a solution to the problem.

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)--Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand-- also supported Prince Sihanouk's efforts. A settlement must include total withdrawal of Vietnamese troops and Kampucheans must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination and become a neutral, independent and non-aligned country, these nations maintained. To this end, ASEAN had invited Viet Nam to take positive measures to participate in the negotiations.

Mr. Sarre said the Committee should promote activities in favour of implementing the principles of the Declaration of the 1981 International Conference on Kampuchea: withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea; restoration and preservation of its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; the right of the Kampuchean people to determine their own destiny; and commitment by all States to non-interference and non-intervention in Kampuchea's internal affairs.