Prak Sokhonn: Peace Must Be Preserved Through Diplomacy

Detailed summary

Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn says the theme of peace at the 20th Francophonie Summit holds particular significance for Cambodia, ...

PHNOM PENH – Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Nov. 14 that the theme of peace at the 20th Francophonie Summit holds particular significance for Cambodia, in view of its dark history of violence and decades of war. He called on the Francophone community to continue working for peace and preserve it through trust, dialogue and friendship.

This year's summit theme, under Cambodia's leadership, is “Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability.”

As Sokhonn noted, this reflects Cambodia's journey toward national reconciliation in 1991, when the Paris Peace Agreements paved the way for peacebuilding in the country.

“Our history has taught us an essential lesson: peace is never a permanent and guaranteed state,” he said during the opening of the 48th session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie on Nov. 14, ahead of the main summit on Nov. 15 and 16. “It must be preserved every single day through dialogue, trust, cooperation, and respect for international law.”

Sokhonn, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said that many populations around the world continue to face violence, forced displacement and the use of force as international crises and tensions persist.

The Francophonie, he said, must make its voice heard in favor of peace. Reinvesting in peace means taking early action to prevent crises and facilitating reconciliation, he added.

Sokhonn also stressed that peace cannot solely depend on the balance of power, citing a Cambodian proverb: “When the water rises, the fish eats the ants. When the water recedes, the ants eat the fish.”

Peace must be grounded in international law, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, with equal protection for both large and small nations, he said.

True peace exists when people trust their institutions and have access to education and opportunities for the future, particularly women and young people, he said.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Cambodianess. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.