EU pledges support to Cambodia's general election in July

The European Union will support and cooperate with Cambodia in order to ensure a free and fair general election in Cambodia in July, Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain, Head of EU Delegation to Cambodia, said on Monday.

Cautain made his remarks during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace, Eang Sophallet, personal spokesman for the premier, told reporters after the meeting.

"Twenty-seven countries in the European Union will support and cooperate with Cambodia in organizing the forthcoming parliamentary election in order to ensure that the election will be free and fair," Cautain was quoted by Eang Sophallet as saying to Hun Sen.

He did not say what ways of support the EU will provide to Cambodia for the election.

Cautain also hailed Cambodia for progressive steps in judicial reform through adopting several legal instruments including the Civil Code, the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption Law; however, he said the country should expedite the passages of Law on Judges, Law on Lawyers and Law on Supreme Council of Judges.

Meanwhile, the premier said that the forthcoming election is held once in every five years and it is very important to push Cambodia towards development with democracy.

He also pledged to urge the passages of the above-mentioned laws as soon as possible.

Cambodia sets to hold a general election on July 28, the National Election Committee announced last month. Some 9.67 million Cambodians will be eligible to cast their ballots.

The Committee said that the election will cost about 21 million U.S. dollars, which is covered by the government.

In the last general election in 2008, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won 90 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party with 26 seats, the Human Rights Party three seats, the Norodom Ranariddh Party two seats and the Funcinpec Party two seats.