DPM Prak Sokhonn: Democracy Cannot Neither Imported Nor Exported

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn has underlined that democracy cannot be neither imported nor exported from one country to another.

“It is generally known that democracy does not materialise by itself nor does it appear out of thin air. It certainly cannot be imported or exported from one country to another, irrespective of the associated cost,” he said while presiding over the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreement held here this morning at the Peace Palace.

Along with the will to bring about peace to Cambodia and its people through the Paris Peace Agreement, there were plans to establish democracy in Cambodia as well; but it was a Western-style democracy that did not carefully take into account the special characteristics of the country, for instance, its recent historical trauma, its culture, its tradition and the conditions on the ground, he said.

“Democracy is a value that we learn and gradually construct and strengthen. But unfortunately, democracy and human rights have rather been used, often times, as instruments by some major powers to pursue their own geopolitical agenda,” the Cambodian top diplomat stressed.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press