Your Prince Norodom SihanoukRoyal Highness, today the eyes of the world are on Cambodia. At last, nearly ten years after the Vietnamese invaded your country, there are signs that they may now be ready to withdraw. Let us hope that they mean what they say, for the sake of Cambodians everywhere, those in Cambodia, those in camps here in Thailand, and those who have been given refuge far from their own country. And indeed for the sake of the ordinary people of Vietnam who have paid dearly for their leader's mistake.
It is too early to celebrate. There is a great deal to be done before Cambodia is governed by Cambodians, freely elected by their own people, and free from foreign interference and free from intimidation. We must do all we can to see that the momentum is not lost. [end p1]
The international community has shown how strongly it feels for the Cambodian people. Every year since the invasion the United Nations General Assembly has called on Vietnam to withdraw its troops.
Britain has been one of the most active countries in keeping up this pressure and I have told Mr Gorbachev that I believe the Soviet Union, which every year gives massive military and economic support to Vietnam, holds the key to Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia.
We shall persist in this message until we have clear evidence that Moscow and Hanoi have truly heard it. The Vietnamese must go. But we must not allow the return of the terrible Pol Pot regime in their place, as you Sir have said, no civilised country could accept that.
We in Britain remember all too vividly the horrors of the Khmer Rouge tyranny before 1978. We condemned their atrocities then and we condemn them no less now. The Cambodian people, all of you, after all that you have suffered, first from the Khmer Rouge and then from ten years of foreign occupation, must at last be allowed the precious right to live in peace and in freedom. [end p2]
We want to see an independent Cambodia, with a freely elected government, secure and at peace with its neighbours. We believe that Your Royal Highness has a crucial part to play in achieving this and you have our full support.
Today I have seen for myself one of the appalling consequences of foreign occupation. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee your homes and find refuge [end p3] here in Thailand. And the response of the Thai Government, and of the people of Thailand, has been outstandingly generous. For ten years they have given sanctuary to thousands of people who have been driven cruelly from their homes.
May I pay warm tribute to the staff of the United Nations Agencies, the Red Cross and the voluntary organisations, many of whom come from my country, and I would like to congratulate them on their work and the marvellous care which they provide. Their work must give them a great sense of fulfillment and of feeling for all mankind.
Britain will continue its support for these relief efforts. We were the first country after the Vietnamese invasion to give humanitarian aid to Your Royal Highness's followers. We are the largest donor of bilateral humanitarian assistance to the non-communist Cambodian refugees and displaced persons in Thailand. [end p4]
We have given more than $20 million, mainly channelled through agencies such as the Red Cross and the United Nations and we will contribute another $1 million this year.
Once a political settlement has been reached, we shall be ready to contribute to the rebuilding of Cambodia's economy. Today I am pleased to be able to hand over personally a small part of Britain's humanitarian assistance, clothes, utensils, school equipment and English language text books.
Your Royal Highness, I have been greatly moved by what I have seen, both the suffering but also the dignity of the people here. Cambodia's struggle for self-determination is important not only to Cambodia, it is important to the South East Asian countries and to the world. You have our admiration in your resolve to be a free people. We shall do everything we can to help and support you until you are truly free.