POLITICAL SOLUTION FOR CAMBODIA (Differences among ASEAN countries)

Mr S. Chandra Das asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) whether he will comment on a Vietnamese statement that "there are profound differences among the ASEAN countries" on a political solution for Cambodia; and (b) what new initiatives will ASEAN embark upon to bring about a solution to the Cambodian problem.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Member is referring to what was said by the Vietnamese Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan on 21st June 1987. It is an old ploy of the Vietnamese to create the impression that ASEAN is not united in the rejection of Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. The Vietnamese have also for some time been trying to play the divide and rule game among the ASEAN countries. They have not been successful. All the ASEAN countries are firmly agreed that the Vietnamese forces must be withdrawn from Cambodia. They are all prepared to respond to any positive signs from Vietnam to arrive at a political solution. They are also just as determined to expose any insincere manoeuvring.

In response to the second part of the question, the main elements for a political solution to the Cambodian problem are already in circulation among the interested parties. Some of these elements, such as phased withdrawal of Vietnamese troops, Cambodian national reconciliation, need for peace-keeping forces and Cambodian self- determination, were discussed between the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mr Rafeeuddin Ahmed, in Singapore last month. They do not constitute a new initiative but form part of a patient and steady diplomatic process in which ASEAN has taken a very active role. We shall see what response Mr Rafeeuddin Ahmed gets from Hanoi before talking about the next step. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers have asked Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, to meet Prince Sihanouk in Pyongyang. He has already done this and Dr Mochtar is now in Vietnam. Vietnam will soon realize that it must talk serious business and stop playing games.