Published by the Cabinet of Samdech Hun Sen —————— MP of Kandal Prime Minister
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Published by the Cabinet of Samdech Hun Sen —————— MP of Kandal Prime Minister Issue 60 http://www.cnv.org.kh January, 2003 28 January 2003 17 January 2003 Addressing the Government –Donor Monitoring Meeting Addressing the Closing of Commerce’s Annual Meeting “… It is a great honor and has exerted its best in imple- pleasure to address the Annual menting the government's poli- Meeting of the Ministry of cies and reform agenda - espe- Commerce, and thus partici- cially that of open and free pate in the review of the Min- trade policy. Indeed, this has istry's 2002 performance as contributed to the reduction of well as set its objectives and poverty among the Cambodian workplan for 2003. people. In behalf of the Royal Govern- In 2002, the Cambodian econ- ment of Cambodia and my omy achieved economic own self as Prime Minister, I growth of 5% despite suffer- sincerely congratulate the ing serious flooding, droughts Ministry of Commerce for its and the negative impacts of commendable performance world insecurity and economic On January 23, 2003, Samdech Hun Sen is warmly welcomed by the and successes achieved in stagnation. elderly people during the inauguration of bridges 24 and 25 on the Na- 2002. tional Road 6A that are built with the Japanese financial assistance. Exchange rates have been sta- The Ministry of Commerce (Continued on page 3) “... Please allow me to warmly ment will also highlight the welcome all Your Excellen- strengths, weaknesses and 14 January 2003 [Unofficial Translation] cies, the representatives of challenges of the reform proc- Ad-lib Address on Roads and Bridges Construction in Khsach Cambodia’s development part- ess. As a result we will be Kandal District, Kandal Province ners who are participating in able to work out more effec- At the groundbreaking cere- gratitude to the venerable head this important meeting. This tive and efficient action plans mony to build in the district of monk of Prey Baing pagoda dialogue marks another mile- and measures to sustain and Khsach Kandal, Kandal prov- for offering us the place to stone in the continuing drive accelerate our efforts in fruit- ince three roads and eleven organize the ceremony and to of the Royal Government of ful momentum. bridges, Samdech Hun Sen our people whose residences Cambodia and the donor com- made the following selected situated along the three roads munity to act decisively in In this regard, I am pleased to and translated address: to be built for their support to implementing the reform inform you all that on 20 De- the initiatives. I also wish to agenda, which we jointly cember 2002, the Royal Gov- ... I am very pleased today for thank the Ministry of Econ- agreed upon at the Consulta- ernment adopted the National having a chance to return to omy and Finance, for which tive Group Meeting here in Poverty Reduction Strategy the district of Khsach Kandal we have here the presence of Phnom Penh last June 2002. (NPRS). The NPRS sets our to preside over the ground- HE Senior Minister Keat directions in development gov- breaking ceremony for which Chhon, our people, the mili- Indeed, we meet at a crucial ernance over the next three three roads and eleven bridges tary engineering team as well juncture in Cambodia’s his- years. This important docu- are being constructed. This is a as Kandal's public works of- tory. Our “Economic Govern- ment was prepared in exten- scarce opportunity and it is fice for the collaboration in ment” has been in office for sive consultation with all gov- also not by chance to have a (Continued on page 5) 50 months. Thus it is appropri- ernment ministries and agen- construction site of this size ate that we make a candid as- cies, the National Assembly for the improvement of infra- sessment of our achievements and Senate, the donor commu- In This Issue structure aimed at generating and performance against set nity, NGOs, the private sector the economic growth and re- 1) Government-Donor Monitor- goals. This exercise is impor- and most especially the poor ing Meeting — P.1 ducing poverty among our 2) Commerce’s Meeting — P.1 tant, since through it we will themselves. people. May I take this oppor- 3) Khsach Kandal’s Roads & learn from the experiences of tunity to first of all express my Bridges — P. 1 implementation. The assess- (Continued on page 2) 4) Zoo in Koh Kong — P. 7 Mailing Box: Cambodia New Vision (CNV), P.O. Box 158, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; e-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 855-23 219898; Fax: 855-23 360666/219869 January 2003 Cambodia New Vision (Continued from page 1) Within the Second Term of the cooperation between Cambo- The current issues have Royal Government, this is the dia and its development part- emerged from the repeatedly Even as we take note of the last opportunity jointly with ners. These topics include: hostile, faulty, unfair and de- advances made so far, we do Cambodia’s development part- Governance Reform, Legal structive attitude and behavior recognize that much more ners for stocktaking and dia- and Judicial Reform, Fiscal of the current forestry moni- remains to be done, by all of logue on Cambodia’s reform Reform, Social Sector Re- toring agent, adversely affect- us together, to implement the programs. Due to the conduct forms, Public Administration ing the national integrity and strategies, policies, programs of the national elections on 27 Reform, and Reform in Natu- credibility of the Royal Gov- and measures set out in the July 2003, the next CG may ral Resources Management. ernment and especially the NPRS. These actions include need to be set toward the end interests of the Cambodian concrete steps to be taken to of 2003 or even early in 2004. Indeed, you are all aware that people. Such behavior has improve governance, build up forestry is right now a very hot ultimately led the former part- national capacity and further Thus it is necessary that at this issue that has increasingly ners to lose mutual trust and coordinate and fine-tune our time we will discuss achieve- caught the attention of the confidence. The state of affairs development programs. As a ments and performance of the public during the last few has now degenerated beyond major step, we have decided Royal Government not only weeks. May I take this oppor- repair. This situation is akin to that to avoid overlaps in devel- during the last six months, but tunity to ensure clear under- the joint process necessary to opment directions, the next to take an overall view of per- standing of this issue right at the choice of one’s life-long NPRS and the third Socio- formance over the last 50 the outset of our dialogue. I partner or spouse. The Royal Economic Development Plan months of the current man- hereby reaffirm that the Royal Government considers all our (SEDP III) will be merged into date, covering the continuous Government will not make a development partners not only a single strategic document. efforts exerted by the Govern- step backward, but will con- close friends but as relatives. ment, reflecting its firm com- tinue to be steadfast and re- Certainly, close friends and This will to enhance owner- mitment in implementing and mains strongly committed to relatives will not force their ship and further mainstream accelerating the reforms re- reform of the forestry sector. fellow friends and relatives to participation in the develop- gardless of difficulties and suffer a bad marriage where ment, implementation and challenges, especially during Thus the Royal Government the partners no longer love nor monitoring of poverty reduc- the election year. has no intention whatsoever, trust each other. tion activities in Cambodia. to suspend nor to cease the In this sense, I emphasize that process and mechanism of We will discuss the details of Moreover, we have decided we have decided to extend our forest crimes monitoring. The the forestry issue in the agenda that the Supreme National discussions from only half a Government remains commit- on the reform of natural re- Economic Council (SNEC) day to a full day. We should ted ensuring the continuity of sources management. As I and the Council for Social take note that detailed discus- this mechanism and to the have stated on many occa- Development (CSD) will sions have already taken place nationwide implementation of sions, the Royal Government henceforth be the key bodies at the working group meetings a strong, effective, credible does not consider the acts of responsible for the formulation prior to today’s dialogue. and reliable system of forest monitoring, constructive criti- of national policies and strate- monitoring. I believe, this is cism, and recommendations by gies for poverty reduction. As before, we will listen to the our common objective, to donors as burdensome condi- Executive Summaries of the which we have all agreed, and tionalities. Indeed, I urge my The SNEC will exercise its topics discussed in the work- which serves as the basis for colleagues here and all devel- role, as it has already been ing groups to be presented by continued cooperation and opment partners to continue performing, in support of the the representatives of the partnership between the RGC the tradition of close dialogue, Prime Minister in the area of Royal Government and the and the development partners. and therefore discuss issues development strategy and pol- donor community. I and my and challenges of Cambodia’s icy. Thus the SNEC will serve colleagues from the Royal In exercising its management reforms in a candid and frank as the Prime Minister’s "Think Government will be here the of the current situation, the manner.