Political Negotiators Meet With Japanese Experts

  • Kong Sothanarith
    VOA Khmer

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, shakes hands with opposition party leader Sam Rainsy, right, after a meeting, as Sar Kheng, center, deputy prime minister, looks on at the National Assembly in Phnom Penh, file photo.

A team of Japanese experts met with political negotiators from the ruling party and opposition, seeking to find middle ground on election reform and end a long political deadlock.

Both sides met with the delegation separately.

Son Chhay, a negotiator for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, said they had discussed irregularities of voters lists and among local village chiefs and the issuance of voter identification, among other issues.

Cheam Yiep, a lawmaker and negotiator for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, said the talks were fruitful, but no firm agreements had been made. “We talked a lot about reforms,” he said.

The delegation, which is led by members of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, will next meet with the Ministry of Interior and the National Election Committee, Cheam Yiep said.