People from all walks of life want peace. Some people fight each other under the

pretext that they are seeking peace. Whatever the definition, whatever the strategy,

the ultimate goal is the same: a true and long-lasting peace.

True peace is cultivated from the very small cells of our society, individual, family,

community. But to cultivate successfully, we must prepare the land. Selecting the

family as the cultivating field for peace is appropriate because the family is where

people learn to respect the common interest, be confident, and trust others.

Long-lasting peace has to be maintained, protected and consolidated. The architects

for peace in the future are the youth of today. They must be taught and trained within

their own family, and their first teacher is the women.

Therefore the cultivation of women to restore the family ethic, and moral, social

and religious values, is an urgent need.

I bring this message on the occasion of International Women's Day, which was celebrated

world wide on March 8.

(Abridged.)

Keat Sukun - Former Minister for Youth, Sport and Women's Affairs - Phnom

Penh