CityNews – British Foreign Minister Hugo Swire has spent this past week (27 Jan – 2 Feb) in Burma and Cambodia. On the conclusion of his visit to Phnom Penh on 30 – 31 January, Hugo Swire said:
Hugo Swire at the Vattanac Tower in Cambodia.
“Cambodia has a tragic past but tremendous potential for the future. I am very impressed by the significant progress that has been made to tackle the devastating legacy of the Khmer Rouge, not least through the vital work of the Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal (the ECCC). I was delighted to announce a further ?500,000 in UK support for this important contribution to international justice.
But it is clear that there is still much to do to ensure that Cambodia has the peaceful and democratic future that its people deserve. I had constructive conversations both with the Prime Minister and opposition leaders and urged them to resolve the ongoing political impasse. I also emphasised the importance of respecting human rights and promoting tolerance, especially at times of political tension.
The UK will remain a staunch supporter of Cambodia as it continues on its journey and I am much encouraged by the UK’s rapidly growing trade and investment there.”