Cambodia Re-emphasises Clear Stance over War in Ukraine


Cambodia has once against underlined its clear stance over the war in Ukraine, saying that it is based on principles of international law.

“Our view and position on war in Ukraine is based on principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. We have a strong view that independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity shall be respected. We do not support secession of states and we are against the use of force in international relations,” reaffirmed Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Chair of ASEAN 2022, in a written interview with EURACTIV Media ahead of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations.

Indeed, he continued, Cambodia always remembers with deep sense of gratitude for the invaluable assistance that the Soviet Union had provided to the country when it was liberated from the genocidal regime, and when Cambodian survivors were unfairly sanctioned economically and diplomatically by the international community for 12 years.

Nonetheless, Cambodia has voted in favor of, and co-sponsored, the Resolution on “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Defending the Principles of the UN Charter”, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said, adding that as the ASEAN Chair, Cambodia had coordinated to have three ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statements issued to express our concern over the situation in Ukraine, to call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and a return to political dialogues and to support the call of the UN Secretary-General for an independent investigation into all acts of violence against civilians in Ukraine.

According to the Premier, it was not an easy decision to make, between friendship and gratitude, and principles of international law. But as a small state, relying on international law and the rule-based international order is the only means to seek justice and to prevent an order based on “might is right”.

“We have applied this clear and consistent position not just on the matter of war in Ukraine but to all other similar issues as well,” he stressed.