Sok Ey San, spokesman for the ruling party CPP, on Friday, told reporters that his government's foreign policy does not discriminate against any country around the world, as long as Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.
Mr. Ey San also said that Cambodia is too «small» to be able to oppose superpower, just like a little human being who could never dare to oppose enormous giant.
"Cambodia is a small country, a human being. So, Cambodia does not dare to conceive any foreign policy in order to oppose «Superpower» or enormous giant," said the spokesman as reported by Fresh News.
Mr. Ey San's statement came after the US Government and the European Union (EU) have mentioned about a possible suspension of cooperation with Cambodia if the current political situation in the country would not be ameliorated.
The two «Superpowers» have been also raising the question about the importance of the Cambodian export products to the EU and the US markets.
Regarding this issue, US ambassador to Cambodia William A. Heidt, last week, in a press conference at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, told reporters that since 20 years, the US has bought products made in Cambodia totaling to $36 billion. In addition, the US has also invested $1,000 million in different sectors in the kingdom.
"We have been a powerful supporter of Cambodia’s economic development. We helped Cambodia create a labor framework that attracted the biggest names in the global garment business, including dozens of American brands. This past year, we created an entirely new, $100 million travel goods industry that today employs nearly 100,000 workers," added Ambassador Heidt in his opening statement.
As for the EU, with its massive «NATO Armed Forces», last week, in a debate to discuss the issue concerning Mr. Kem Sokha's arrest, they mentioned about a possibility to suspend the development cooperation with Cambodia if the current political situation in the country would not be changed.
"[...] any consideration regarding the possible suspension of cooperation would have to be carefully evaluated in terms of its impact, especially on the poor and vulnerable population, on people' livelihoods and on better access of children to schools that are the first priority we have in helping the Cambodian people," said Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative/Vice-President at the European Parliament.
To Ms. Mogherini, today, the EU is the biggest market for Cambodia's export products under the "Everything But Arms" scheme. As a result, if the cooperation with the EU is suspended, the Kingdom of Cambodia would lose all these unique opportunities.
Concerning Mr. Sokha's arrest, Ms. Mogherini added that the EU is looking to the Cambodian authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that all political parties, civil society, and media can function normally without fear «as it should be the case in any functioning democracy.»
In the same way, the US Government has also been calling for Mr. Kem Sokha's immediate release, for a normal functioning of media and civil society and for a dialogue between the government, opposition, and civil society.
"We join the European Union in calling for Mr. Kem Sokha’s immediate release. The normal functioning of Cambodia’s media market should be restored. Pressure on civil society should cease. And, perhaps most importantly, the government, opposition, and civil society should begin a dialogue about the future of Cambodia’s democracy in an open, respectful, and pressure-free environment," said Ambassador Heidt in his opening statement in the press conference.
Mr. Kem Sokha, a well-known opposition leader, was arrested on September 3 early morning around midnight at his house in Phnom Penh following an alleged video clip posted on the Internet for which Prime Minister Hun Sen has accused Mr. Sokha for treason.
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