UN LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING NEW CAMBODIAN LAW ON KHMER ROUGE TRIALS, SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPOKESMAN STATES

UN LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING NEW CAMBODIAN LAW ON KHMER ROUGE TRIALS,

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPOKESMAN STATES

Following is the text of a statement attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has noted that His Majesty, King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, signed the draft law on a special court to try Khmer Rouge leaders today, bringing the legislation into effect.

The United Nations looks forward to receiving the law and an official translation now that it has been adopted.  The legislation will be reviewed to determine that it conforms to a draft memorandum of understanding governing its participation with Cambodia in a trial.

The United Nations is prepared to continue to work closely with the Government to assist it to undertake a trial that will finally bring Khmer Rouge leaders to justice and provide a measure of accountability for the heinous crimes they committed against their fellow Cambodians and their country.  The relationship between the United Nations and the Government of Cambodia will have to be governed by a memorandum of understanding.

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