The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Benedetto Della Vedova on Friday met a the former leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) opposition party, Sam Rainsy, and CNRP lawmaker Samura Tioulong, the foreign ministry said.
Della Vedova 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, according to the ministry.
Della Vedova emphasised his regret for the arrest of the President of the CNRP, Kem Sokha. He also voiced concern at 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 parliamentary elections scheduled in 2018, the ministry stated.
