Phnom Penh — Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet today provided a candid overview of the Royal Government’s strategy regarding the border dispute with Thailand, stressing that while its approach may appear “quiet,” it is certainly “not silent” in its active pursuit of a lasting ceasefire and peace.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Techo International Airport, the Premier affirmed Cambodia’s fundamental foreign policy: “Cambodia has no intention of violating the sovereignty or territorial integrity of any other country. At the same time, Cambodia will also not allow anyone to do so against us. This is the principle.”
Three Key Approaches to Ending Conflict
Samdech Thipadei outlined three core strategic approaches guiding the government’s actions to resolve the ongoing border tensions:
- Conflict Prevention: To prevent the existing conflict from spreading to other areas.
- Exhausting All Means: To employ all methods and explore every possible means to end the conflict that causes serious destruction.
- Relationship Restoration: To actively work to restore normal relations between the two countries.
The Prime Minister emphasized that this policy of restraint is deliberate. “We maintain quietness (restraint) to minimise problems and reduce the loss of lives, both soldiers and civilians, as well as damage to property, while seeking to restore the situation,” he stated.
He further underscored the human cost of the fighting: “If we don’t end the conflict, it’s not the leaders or the people in the city who die, but the soldiers and the people in the conflict zone.”
Ending the conflict remains the most important goal for Cambodia, and the Prime Minister concluded by expressing hope that a peace agreement will be concluded in the near future.