09PHNOMPENH143 AMBASSADOR MARCIEL URGES CONTINUED DIALOGUE ON PREAH VIHEAR, ATTENTION TO CORRUPTION CONCERNS AT ECCC IN MEETING WITH DPM SOK AN
“195118″,”3/4/2009 10:26″,”09PHNOMPENH143″,
“Embassy Phnom Penh”,”CONFIDENTIAL”,
“09PHNOMPENH101″,”VZCZCXRO8943
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #0143/01 0631026
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041026Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0466
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0582
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0685
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0141
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2371″,”C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000143
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, P, D, IO
PARIS FOR AMB. OLIVER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019
TAGS: PREL, KJUS, KTIA, SCUL, TH, CB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MARCIEL URGES CONTINUED DIALOGUE ON
PREAH VIHEAR, ATTENTION TO CORRUPTION CONCERNS AT ECCC IN
MEETING WITH DPM SOK AN
REF: PHNOM PENH 101
Classified By: Ambassador Carol A. Rodley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: During a March 3 discussion with Deputy
Prime Minister Sok An, EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary and
Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel praised the
Cambodian government for working bilaterally with the Thais
to find a long-term solution to the Preah Vihear area border
dispute, and urged continued dialogue between the two
governments. Sok An stated that the next step on Preah
Vihear talks included plans for a Joint Border Commission
meeting in Phnom Penh in April, and that Cambodia\’s progress
report on the Preah Vihear temple is due to the World
Heritage Committee in May. On the Khmer Rouge Tribunal
(KRT), Sok An stated that allegations of corruption at the
court are an issue internal to Cambodia. Ambassador Marciel
repeated the Embassy\’s message that it is important to
address corruption concerns so that they do not distract from
the positive efforts of the KRT. The Deputy Prime Minister
stated that finalizing a Cambodian anti-corruption law is a
priority. Ambassador Marciel agreed with Sok An\’s point that
the law would not be a magic solution to the problem of
corruption, but stated that passage of the law will be a
positive signal to the Cambodian people and international
companies that might consider doing business in Cambodia.
End Summary.
Preah Vihear: Same Old Song
—————————-
2. (C) During Ambassador Marciel\’s March 3 meeting with
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Senior Minister to the
Council of Ministers Sok An, the DPM communicated many of the
same points regarding the Preah Vihear area border dispute as
those raised during Ambassador Rodley\’s courtesy call with
the DPM on February 12 (Reftel). The DPM recounted his
familiar account of Cambodia\’s negotiations for the
in
