KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA
Nation Religion King
Address By
Samdech HUN SEN
Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia
ASEAN Environmental Year 2003
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
05 March 2003
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor and pleasure for me to address the opening of this very important ASEAN Environment Year 2003. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and on my own behalf, I would like to warmly welcome distinguished ministers and delegates from ASEAN, our friends from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, diplomatic corps, UN organizations, NGO communities and the private sector to our ancient and historical capital of Siem Reap, the land of wonderful Angkor Wat temple.
Cambodia is proud of having the honor to host this important event. It reflects our efforts to integrate itself into the international community. This meeting gives us an excellent opportunity to review regional accomplishments made during the past three years, since the second AEY launch in Brunei Darussalam in 2000. It will also provide us with a forum to draw lessons and experiences for future direction "Together Towards Sustainable Development".
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are conscious that the decisions we make today will have consequences across space and time. Inevitably, environmental interests span borders as well as generations. This reality was again emphasized in recent international gatherings – at Doha, and more recently at Johannesburg. Environmental sustainability is a global challenge intimately linked with globalization and responsible multilateral trade and exchange. All nations serve as stewards of a grave, worldwide obligation, since clearly, environmental security is as important as economical and political security.
As I mentioned in the GMS Summit that was conducted in Phnom Penh late last year, it is with deep concern for our shared future that the Royal Government of Cambodia highlights some elements that we must all promote to help ensure sustainable development and poverty alleviation in ASEAN. These include the implementation and expansion of afforestation and reforestation programs, the careful management of the natural resources within the region, the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, etc.
We all stand to gain or to lose, depending on whether our environmental management is appropriate or not. In this sense, our country has committed itself to the implementation of socio-economic development plans, environmental protection measures and other reforms to alleviate poverty and to ensure sustainable development. Despite difficulties and challenges we have faced after the end of internal conflict, we have achieved good encouraging progress in stabilizing our post-conflict society, environmental protection, natural resource management, improving health care and education, etc., which are very important prerequisites towards poverty alleviation and sustainable development. In the new era of globalization, we the ASEAN nations need to establish a more comprehensive framework and mechanisms for constructive cooperation in the field of environment.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Johannesburg Summit that was conducted last year highlighted some important commitments and implementation initiatives, which very much address the needs and priorities of the ASEAN countries. We in ASEAN are committed to pursuing sustainable development in the region and have demonstrated through the ASEAN's Vision 2020 as "a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring society". The vision also calls for "a clean and green ASEAN with fully established mechanisms for sustainable development to ensure the protection of the region's environment, the sustainability of its natural resources and the high quality of life of its people". In particular, the Hanoi Plan of Action calls for the protection of the environment and promotion of sustainable development. These are key towards poverty reduction and sustainable development in our region.
The recent Informal Meeting of the ASEAN's Environment Ministers in November 2002 in Vientiane made further progress towards implementation of specific actions to address the urgent environmental issues our region are facing including trans-boundary haze pollution and follow-up actions to the WSSD at the regional level. The Meeting also initiated a dialogue within the framework of ASEAN+3 on the common environmental issues and future environmental cooperation. We need to work more closely to ensure synergies, better resource mobilization, improved coordination and cooperation in order to protect our environment and at the same time enhance economic and social development for our people.
The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly believes that sustainable development including the sustainable use of natural resources cannot be achieved if poverty issues are not seriously overcomed. At the same time, successful poverty reduction requires time, effective policy, as well as a comprehensive and realistic program of activities with broad participation of the society and political will in order to achieve the set forth objectives/goal. In this respect, we have adopted three key strategies to combat poverty: (i) accelerating long-term sustainable economic growth, (ii) ensuring equitable distribution of the economic benefits, and (iii) managing and using natural resources with sustainability and environmental protection.
The Royal Government of Cambodia clearly recognizes the need for a broad and radical reform in key natural resource management sectors such as forestry, fisheries, and land, which are the major assets of the nation. Our “Second Five Year Socio-Economic Plan 2001–2005” stresses that "a balance must be achieved between economic, cultural and environmental objectives and between economic efficiency of resource use and equity". To achieve this, we have proposed strategies such as: (i) prevention of environmental and resource degradation caused by policy distortions and market failures; (ii) establishing and implementing the legal frameworks for natural resource management; (iii) enhancing the human resources capacity for natural resource management; and (iv) designing and implementing a land management framework that makes adequate provision for the poor, including local community access to common property resources. We have made considerable progress in forest protection and management, fishery and land management, with high priority given to the needs and concerns of local communities.
We also clearly understand that political stability and peace are a necessary and fundamental prerequisite for the country's march towards democracy, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. The country is making intensive reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts to eradicate poverty and improve people’s living standard. We are undertaking these tasks in an era in which the themes of “sustainable development” and “environmental security” have come to the forefront of the global consciousness.
We strongly support the concept of building innovative partnerships between government, private sector and civil society for financing development, which was achieved in Johannesburg. We need better support from the wealthier countries to support our efforts in achieving sustainable development. Enabling environment and opportunity, fairer trade, equitable partnership and good governance are key factors toward ownership, self- sustaining and long term development for our countries. We must seek mechanisms to ensure that we will not become a victim of globalization.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope that this meeting will be an excellent opportunity for us to assess the status of the implementation of commitments and initiatives we have made. Our presence here today demonstrates our common commitments to cooperate and move towards sustainable development and a clean environment in our region.
Once again, let me wish our honorable delegates from all countries and organizations every success in this meeting and have a pleasant and memorable stay in this wonderful city of Siem Reap. I encourage you to take this opportunity to enjoy our historical and famous heritage of Angkor Wat.
Thank you for your attention.
