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Department Spokesman James P. Rubin Press Statement Washington, DC, August 12, 1997 U.S. Department of State

U.S. Support for ASEAN's Cambodia Initiative

The United States welcomes and endorses ASEAN's decision, announced at its Foreign Ministers meeting in Singapore, August 11, to remain engaged in seeking to restore political stability to Cambodia. ASEAN's decision is in keeping with the organization's role in promoting regional peace and stability. We share ASEAN's goals of restoring the principles of the Paris Peace Accords and of creating conditions for free and fair elections in May 1998. We believe that ASEAN is uniquely placed to sustain contact with Cambodia's principal political actors in pursuit of those goals.

The United States would strongly support a future effort by ASEAN to organize an informal meeting, involving all the parties directly concerned, as suggested in the Foreign Ministers' statement. We also welcome ASEAN's stated readiness to provide technical support to facilitate national elections in Cambodia.

The United States hopes that other countries with an interest in restoring democracy to Cambodia will join us in expressing strong support for ASEAN's decision. ASEAN's initiative in Cambodia is a impressive example of the organization's influence and dynamism, characteristics that have made ASEAN a model for regional efforts at cooperation and problem-solving .

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