Cambodia has asked the United States to cancel debts

03/10/2009
By Rasmei Kampuchea
Asia News Network

Phnom Penh - Cambodia has asked the United States to cancel debts during the Lon Non government which is accounted around US$300 million.

The request was made when Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong met his US counterpart, Hillary Clinton, during the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York late last month.

"If the debts cannot be canceled, I requested that a big part of them be transformed into the development aid for Cambodia. Hilary Clinton replied that she would consider it," said Hor Nam Hong on Oct 1 upon his arrival from the United States.

"The Lon Non government who made a coup in 1970 borrowed the money from the US. It brought wars from Vietnam into Cambodia. Most of the debts were used to buy arms," he added.
The Lon Nol government was, at that time, supported by the US.
Meanwhile, Hor Nam Hong appreciated the progress of good relations and cooperation between the two countries. Over the last few years, the United States has given Cambodia aids in all fields such as military, health, education, etc.

Cambodia has good relations with the United States, but at the same time, it also built up a deeper relation with China. The latter has become the biggest aid donor and largest investment in Cambodia.