Kampot (FN), Dec. 30 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen recalled that allowing top leaders of the Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, and others to visit him 24 years ago, on 29 December 1998, indicated three messages.

The premier spoke at the groundbreaking for the reconstruction and upgrading of National Road No. 31 and No. 33, held at Kampot on Friday (Dec 30).

"My first message was that the remaining Khmer Rouge forces shall lay down their weapons as their leaders are here at the house of the ruling prime minister. The second message wanted the people to know that the war is over. The third message wanted the international community to visit and invest in Cambodia as the kingdom ended the war completely,” the premier underlined.

"There is no country in the world that has ended the war in the Cambodian way through the win-win policy where everyone wins and it is in the interest of all the people in Cambodia,” the premier added.

Samdech continued, "given what we have been through, peace is so precious to us that we shall jointly protect it. Without peace, no need to talk about development.”

The events of 29 December 1998 were considered the complete end of the war and conflict in Cambodia under the win-win policy initiated by premier Hun Sen in 1996. This success has brought complete peace, which is conducive to the development of the kingdom.
=FRESH NEWS