W

ASHINGTON - Praising Cambodia's steps toward democracy, Senator John McCain

introduced legislation this month designed to give the country new US trade

privileges.

The Republican from Arizona said Cambodia should be awarded

Most Favored Nation (MFN) trading status in recognition of its "significant

progress toward democracy and peace."

Most countries are awarded

so-called MFN, which lets them sell goods in the United States at low tariff

levels, and McCain said Cambodia was only excluded due to an anomaly in U.S.

trade law.

For Cambodian to win MFN status under McCain's proposal, it

must allow free emigration, reach a bilateral deal with the United States and

have its new status approved by Congress.

McCain said trade, not

continued isolation, will bolster Cambodia's human-rights gains and steps toward

democracy.

He said: "It is economic development, not the eternal good

will and generosity of the international community, that will ultimately justify

Cambodia's faith in democracy and free markets.

"It is my hope that with

proper improvements in its infrastructure, giving Cambodia MFN status will help

attract the capital investment it needs."-Reuters

Banteay Meanchey

rice 

FARMERS in Banteay Meanchey province have already ploughed 1,000 ha of rice

fields, according to incomplete statistics.

In this rainy rice cropping,

the province plans to put 150,000 ha under rice, an official said. - AKP