US envoy calls for party talks
Peaceful and constructive dialogue will enable the ruling and opposition parties to “overcome the current impasse”, US ambassador to Cambodia William Todd has said.
In a frank column in local media on Sunday, linked to from the US embassy in Phnom Penh’s website, Todd said the political climate was “unprecedented” and the stage set for leaders to act in the interest of voters.
“For the next step, I believe that both major political parties need to return to the negotiating table to chart a way forward that is in the best interests of all Cambodians,” he wrote. …
A number of countries – including Australia, France and Japan – have congratulated Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party on winning the July 28 election. The US, UK and the European Union, among other foreign powers, however, have yet to lend their official support to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government.
The United States has continued to back calls for an independent investigation into election irregularities. …
Meas Sokchea and Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-envoy-calls-party-talks
