OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA
FOR THE PERIOD
April - May - June 2008
During this period, April to June 2008, the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia (NACK) was in recess. The Members of Parliament made use of the recess to meet the people in their respective constituencies.
In early April 2008, the Secretariat of the National Assembly held its annual meeting under the presidency of Samdech Akkar Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly. The purpose was to review the Secretariat’s achievements and improve its future performance. At this special event, Samdech expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the international agencies, international as well as national Non-Governmental Organizations and other development partners such as the United Nations Development Program, Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung Foundation, Canadian International Development Agency, etc., for their contributions to the capacity building of the Members of Parliament and staff of the Secretariat General of the National Assembly, and for the following recommendations:
- Civil servants should implement the work compliance with the hierarchy and those holding high responsibilities should not be bias towards other political parties, religious beliefs, and race or color because all belong to the state. Civil servants must be neutral and must provide excellent service to all the Members of Parliament (MPs) so as to maximize the benefits to the nation and to the people first. It must be borne in mind that even though the MPs come from different political parties, they are the representatives not just to the people in their own respective constituency but also the whole nation.
- Leaders have to be a model to their staff and be dignified with a high sense of morality and good virtues, and avoid being rude or using coarse language in order to safeguard the solidarity and harmony of our institution.
- The officers in charge of security have to strengthen the security as well as protect all the property belonging to the National Assembly.
- Since the Kingdom of Cambodia is in the phase of regional and world integration, the staff must put in more effort at learning to increase their knowledge, and set the target of further enhancing their skills and capabilities, especially in foreign languages because the Cambodian parliament has plenty of work that needed to be fulfilled such as hosting the AIPA and IPU General Assemblies, APPF as well as participation at many international conferences.
Moreover, the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia at the same time also warmly welcomes parliamentary delegations from various countries on official visits to the Kingdom of Cambodia with the objective of strengthening relationships, improving cooperation, exchanging experiences and discussing matters of mutual interests and understanding. The National Assembly of Cambodia also sends out delegations abroad to visit its counterparts.
Events in April
On 20 April 2008 the Speaker attended the 118th IPU Assembly in Cape Town. In his speech, Samdech emphasized that there are many poor countries in the world living under the poverty line. In order to assist the poor nations, Samdech called on the donors of loans either to reduce or write-off the debts by converting them into new MDG programs.
Also in the same month, Samdech received a courtesy call by His Excellency Mr. Huynh Dam, a member of the Central Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Vietnamese National Front. At that meeting, Samdech stated that Cambodia’s parliament is well satisfied with the high increase in economic, trade and diplomatic bilateral relations between Cambodia and Vietnam. Samdech strongly encouraged more investments, tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries for the mutual benefits of the peoples of both countries.
On 28 April 2008, His Excellency Hong Sun Hout, Second Vice-President of the National Assembly received a courtesy call by Mr. Yves Buisson, Director of Supreme Study Agency of French Speaking Countries to Vientiane of Lao PDR and Former Director of Cambodia Pastor institution. During the discussion at this meeting, H.E. Second Vice-President said that in the past ASEAN students learned medicine at the University of Cambodia and used to develop contacts with Vietnam and Lao PDR with the aim of exchanging experiences with the three countries.
He also welcomed His Excellency Dr.Petara Bero, Vice Speaker of the Republic of Bulgaria. Their meeting focused on strengthening the bonds between the two Parliaments, Governments and their peoples. He also requested for Bulgaria’s assistance on capacity building for the staff of the NACK Secretariat.
H.E. Pen Pannha, Chairman of the Legislation and Justice Commission of the National Assembly met with Mrs. Zhang Xuan, Deputy Secretary of Chongging Committee of the Communist Party of China. During the meeting, H.E. Pen Pannha said that he was very pleased with the elaborate and good long-lasting relationship between the two countries. He also mentioned that democracy in Cambodia has become deeply rooted in the Cambodian society and that Cambodia had held several elections so far, including three national elections, two commune elections and one senate election.
Events in May
H.E. Hong Sun Hout, Second Vice-President of the National Assembly of Cambodia paid an official visit to the National Assembly of Lao PDR. During the visit he conveyed the mutual request from Cambodia’s legislative bodies to the President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR for exchange of visits to be encouraged between the two parliaments in order to absorb and exchange experiences between the leaders, the expertise commissions as well as the other sections of the Secretariats.
Events in June
On 2nd June 2008, Samdech Akkar Moha Ponhea charkrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly received a courtesy call by Mr. Georges Dellemagne, Vice- Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission of the Senate of Belgium in the National Assembly building. During the exchange of views, Samdech requested Mr. Dellemagne to help promote Belgium investments in Cambodia and also informed him about the upcoming fourth general election which will be held on 27th July, 2008. Inaddition, Samdech mentioned that the third legislative term of the National Assembly had adopted many laws and ratified bills, treaties, and other protocols as well as agreements, totaling 147 altogether.
