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Minister Sharma’s statement on the anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements that set in motion a peace process in Cambodia.

Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Alok Sharma, said:

25 years ago the United Kingdom was one of 19 co-signatories of the Paris Peace Agreements, setting in motion a peace process in Cambodia following two decades of civil war, and the devastation inflicted by the Khmer Rouge regime. On behalf of the UK Government I congratulate the Cambodian people on the remarkable progress they have made since 1991 in economic growth, reducing poverty and attaining key development goals despite considerable challenges.

The UK played an important role as a permanent member of the Security Council in support of the Agreements and the historic and unprecedented creation of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia. We continue to support Cambodia’s development to this day. Our assistance is currently focused on funding demining efforts, and supporting the efforts of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) to bring to account the surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime.

On this important anniversary the UK Government calls on the Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms as provided for in the Agreements.

BACKGROUND

The Paris Peace Agreements were signed on October 23 1991 by the Cambodian parties to the conflict and 18 other nations, in the presence of the UN Secretary-General. They agreed a comprehensive political settlement aimed at ending more than 20 years of conflict. A mandate was agreed for a UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia to govern Cambodia temporarily and manage its transition to democracy. The Agreements established that the Cambodian constitution should be based on the principles of “liberal democracy and pluralism”. October 23rd is now celebrated as a public holiday in Cambodia to commemorate the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements.

• Cambodian signatories: State of Cambodia, FUNCINPEC, KNPLF, NADK (Khmer Rouge)
• International signatories: Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia,
  Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Soviet Union, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Yugoslavia

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma on Twitter @AlokSharma_RDG

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

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