Cambodian FM denies political deadlock over election row

English.news.cn   2014-02-22 15:55:15

 

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Saturday that there is no political impasse in Cambodia despite ongoing post-election dispute between the ruling and opposition parties.

"I would like to stress that there is no political deadlock in Cambodia," he told a joint press conference after meeting with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop. "All the state's institutions are functioning normally."

He said all actions taken by the government of Cambodia in the past, at the present and in the future would be in accordance with the constitution and laws of Cambodia.

He added that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP) should join the National Assembly to discuss their demand for an electoral reform instead of taking to the street.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy's CNRP have been locked in a dispute over the July 2013 election results which showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats and the CNRP got the rest 55 seats.

Claiming serious irregularities in the poll, the CNRP has refused to accept the outcome, boycotted parliament and staged violent protest to push for step-down of Hun Sen and reelection.

On Feb. 18, the CPP and the CNRP reached an agreement to form a joint committee for an electoral reform aimed at free and fair elections in the future.

Bishop said the agreement was a positive step towards resolving political dispute in Cambodia and encouraged the two parties to continue dialogue for a peaceful solution.

Bishop arrived here on Friday for a three-day visit to further promote bilateral ties and cooperation between Australia and Cambodia. During her stay, she also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen Saturday morning and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng in the afternoon.