Diplomatic move

CAMBODIA established full diplomatic ties with Sierra Leone last week in an agreement signed at the United Nations.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong noted yesterday that the countries shared turbulent histories, but had moved beyond these challenges and were looking forward to their partnership.

“This new establishment of Cambodia and Sierra Leone’s diplomatic ties will help promote bilateral cooperation, trade, investment, tourism and other developments between the two countries in the future,” Koy Kuong said.

Through most of the 1990s, Sierra Leone was gripped by a civil war that ultimately stretched 11 years and only concluded in 2002. As in Cambodia, a United Nations-backed tribunal was established to try individuals accused of war crimes as part of the conflict, which killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 2 million people.

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is currently on trial in the Netherlands in relation to the conflict.

Koy Kuong said there were no plans for Cambodia and Sierra Leone to open embassies in their respective countries.