Brexit Won’t Affect Ties, Says UK Ambassador

KHMER TIMES
ROS CHANVEASNA

British ambassador Bill Longhurst talks with Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn at the Foreign Ministry yesterday. KT/Mai Vireak

The British ambassador yesterday reaffirmed to the Cambodian government that the results of a recent referendum on leaving the EU, and a cabinet reshuffle by the ruling Conservative Party, would not have a negative impact on the country’s ties with Cambodia.

Ambassador Bill Longhurst met with Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn at the ministry yesterday in an effort to allay fears that the referendum result, which saw 52 percent of voters signal their desire for the UK to leave the EU, would damage trade or development.

Speaking after the closed-door meeting, ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said Mr. Longhurst had stressed that the UK government did not foresee any problems arising from the vote, or the subsequent ministerial reshuffle.

“Regarding this issue, His Excellency [Prak Sokhonn] believes that the UK cabinet reshuffle will not affect the good bilateral relationship of both countries at all.”

The EU is one of Cambodia’s largest trading partners, taking more than 40 percent of exports destined for Europe. Cambodia falls under the EU’s “Everything but Arms” initiative for least developed nations, ensuring preferential treatment for Cambodian exports.

The non-binding referendum, dubbed “Brexit,” has yet to be formally invoked, which would begin a process of extraction from various EU bodies that experts believe could take up to 10 years.

According to Mr. Sounry, the pair also discussed the ongoing issue of landmine clearance in Cambodia.

“His Excellency [Prak Sokhonn] also requested the United Kingdom to continually provide its funding and technical aid on mine-clearing activities to Cambodia,” he said, noting that Mr. Longhurst pledged to provide additional assistance.

An estimated four to six million landmines and other munitions left from decades of war and internal conflict continue to contaminate Cambodia, according to a Cambodian Mine Action Authority report from November last year, which have killed an estimated 19,720 people since 1979.