“The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Benedetto Della Vedova, today met at the Farnesina the former leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) opposition party, Sam Rainsy, and CNRP MP Samura Tioulong.
The Undersecretary, recalling the European Union’s recent declarations on the subject, expressed great concern for the current political situation in Cambodia and especially for the adverse climate to the freedom of action of the Country’s major opposition party, which obtained more than 40% of the votes in recent local elections. Mr Della Vedova emphasised his regret for the arrest of the President of the CNRP, Kem Sokha, and for the closing of several newspapers and expressed the hope that the Cambodian Government intends to assure the opposition’s exercise of its political rights and its full freedom of expression in view of the parliamentary elections scheduled in 2018.”
