Political Parties Agree on Way Forward for Political Reform

Cambodia’s ruling and opposition parties reopened negotiations on Tuesday, seeking to end a political deadlock that has been in place since July’s national elections. Negotiators from the Cambodian People’s Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party spoke for more than two hours at the Senate building in Phnom Penh, agreeing to look for ways to reform Cambodia’s political process. The two sides said in a joint statement they hoped to organized a national forum that would draw from the international community, local NGOs and other interested parties to work on reform. The talks marked the most progress in negotiations between the two sides since similar meetings in September 2013. (Heng Reaksmey, Phnom Penh/Say Mony, Phnom Penh)