The ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their deep concern that the global trend towards peace has bypassed Cambodia, despite many attempts to forge a settlement. The Foreign Ministers expressed their regret that the parties to the conflict have failed to bring an end to the suffering of their people and destruction to their country. All parties involved have hardened their positions and retreated from previous areas of agreement. Military conflict has intensified. They believed that the time has come for all parties to the conflict to respond positively to the various peace efforts being pursued and seriously negotiate a comprehensive political settlement.
They reiterated their condemnation of all responsible for the policies and practices of the period 1975-1978 which led to the extermination of Cambodians on a large scale. They are firmly of the view that there should not be a return to the situation of 1975-1978. They stressed that no Cambodian group be allowed to seize or retain power through force of arms.
They reiterated their conviction that the conflict can only be settled through peaceful negotiations and rejected the pursuit of military gains at the expense of the interests of the Cambodian people. The Foreign Ministers are of the view that there is a pressing need for a cease-fire as a crucial element of a comprehensive political settlement.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers fully supported an enhanced role for the United Nations in Cambodian. They stressed that there are several possible avenues towards a comprehensive political settlement. There could be a United Nations interim administration for Cambodia, pending alections. There could be a Supreme National Council representing all shades of political opinion that could administer Cambodia in the interim period through existing administrative structures in conjunction with the United Nations. These avenues are acceptable if they allow the Cambodian people to make a choice through credible, free and fair elections under United Nations supervision.
The Foreign Ministers are convinced that the Cambodian factions should come to an urgent agreement on the creation of the Supreme Nation Council as a vehicle towards achieving nation reconciliation and a comprehensive political solution to the Cambodian problem. They shared the view that the Supreme National Council should consist of representative individuals with authority among the Cambodian people to all shades of political opinion. They expressed the view that the representation Cambodian at the UN is a delicate political question and that attempts to change the representation Cambodian at this time in the absence of an acceptable SNC, would set back the search for a comprehensive political solution to the Cambodian problem. They are of the collective view that the Supreme National Council should occupy the Cambodian seat at the United Nations after it is formed. The Foreign Ministers expressed the hope that the Supreme National Councils envisaged in this Joint Statement would be constituted b the time the Forty-fifth UNGA in convened.
The Foreign Ministers are convinced that working towards the goal of an early comprehensive political settlement to the Cambodian problem, HRH Prince Norodom Sihanouk will continue to play a key role.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers encouraged Five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council to continue and intensify their efforts. ASEAN will continue to coordinate its efforts with the Permanent Five and the United Nations Secretary-General. They expressed the hope that the two Co-Chairman would be able to reconvene the Paris International Conference on Cambodia a soon as feasable. The Cambodian people have waited too long for a just and durable peace settlement. They deserve it now.
