Three newly appointed ambassadors will meet with National Assembly President Heng Samrin next week to discuss their diplomatic mandates abroad, officials said Friday.
The ambassadors—to Cuba, the Philippines and Russia—will take their posts in July, but next week’s meeting is part of a long agenda for diplomats, who must also meet the king, the prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs and the Senate president before they are posted abroad.
Hay Somearin, the chief of the francophone department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will replace Press Manola in Cuba. Hoeus Sereython, chief of the ministry’s Asean affairs office, will replace Im May in the Phillipines. And Thay Vanna, chief of the ministry’s personnel department, will replace Khieu Thavika in Russia.
“The three people have enough experience for diplomatic relations and diplomatic affairs, and they have worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since the 1980s,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told VOA Khmer Friday.
Chheang Vun, chairman of the National Assembly’s foreign affairs committee, said the ambassadors will be counseled to “work hard to protect the dignity of the nation, improve relations with the country, protect the rights of Cambodians living in that country and to attract investment to Cambodia.”
Cooperation for investment was paramount, he said, “because we need investment to come and help the development of the country and increase employment to Cambodians.”
Thay Vanna said he expected good counsel from Heng Samrin when they meet next week.