CAMBODIAN PM LAUDS PEACE CORPS ARRIVAL

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000530 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR RON TSCHETTER SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID SOCI CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIAN PM LAUDS PEACE CORPS ARRIVAL ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter visited Cambodia April 2-5, 2007, during which he officiated at the swearing-in ceremony for the first Peace Corps volunteers in Cambodia, had an audience with King Norodom Sihamoni and met with Prime Minister Hun Sen. The meeting with the Prime Minister was positive, with both Director Tschetter and the Prime Minister underscoring friendship between the peoples of the U.S. and Cambodia. The Ambassador congratulated Hun Sen on the recent elections, emphasizing the orderly and non-violent process. The Prime Minister responded that a multi-party democracy is a necessity in Cambodia. End Summary. Meeting with PM Hun Sen -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Director Tschetter thanked the Prime Minister for the warmth and hospitality with which Peace Corps had been received in Cambodia. He talked about the ability of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) to learn from their Cambodian colleagues and host families and bring that understanding back to America. He emphasized the need to build understanding and friendship, as well as technical skills, to make a better future for both countries. He closed by inviting the Prime Minister to visit the Peace Corps Offices in Washington. ¶3. (SBU) The Prime Minister mentioned that he was particularly moved that the Peace Corps Volunteers took an oath to serve the interests of the people of America, and was glad that they would be serving the interests of the Cambodian people as well. He was impressed in seeing PCVs speaking the Khmer language on television, and heard positive comments from people in the training communities. The PM is confident that the PCVs will be integrated into Cambodian society and become a part of their new families. He assured Director Tschetter with respect to the safety of the PCVs in their communities, and hoped that the experience will bind together the peoples of Cambodia and the United States. ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador offered his congratulations on the recent commune elections and summarized the observations of the Embassy election monitoring teams. He noted that the elections were orderly and peaceful, and candidates appeared to be respectful of one another. ¶5. (SBU) The Prime Minister responded by noting the importance of a multi-party system for a sustainable democracy. He said that if there is cooperation before an election, everyone can feel safe after the election. He added that PCVs can help to educate Cambodian people about democracy, multi-party political systems and transparent elections. One day CPP will lose the election, said the PM, and when that happens, he will be glad to transfer authority to a new Prime Minister. MUSSOMELI