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Ambassador Ray in discussions with His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni. (Photo courtesy of the Cambodian Royal Palace.)
Praise for Cambodian Assistance on US POW-MIA Issues
Phnom Penh
January 15-18, 2007
Former U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Charles A. Ray recently returned to Cambodia in his new role as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Appointed to this position in September 2006, Ambassador Ray is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for policy, control and oversight of all matters pertaining to missing personnel, and for establishing uniform policies and procedures leading to the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing in action from all conflicts. During his January 15-18 visit, Ambassador Ray met with Cambodian government officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, and inspected MIA dig sites.
During his meetings, Ambassador Ray praised Cambodia for the cooperation it has given US investigators working to recover the remains of American servicemen believed to be located in this country. Ambassador Ray stated, "We hold up this Cambodian cooperation as an example to all the other nations in which we work. We point to Cambodia to simply say, 'Follow their lead.' The Cambodians have set an excellent example."
During his visit, Ambassador Ray also spoke on the topic "The Evolution of U.S.-Cambodia Relations" with approximately 80 journalism students studying at the Department of Media and Communications at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Members of the Cambodian press were also invited to attend the event, and at its conclusion, Ambassador Ray fielded questions related to his remarks and to his new role as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
In his speech, Ambassador Ray stated, "While serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia, my interests were in ensuring the relationship between this country and the United States was a productive one, for both sides. In recent years, that relationship has been a positive one in most areas." He counseled, however, that "a democratic, representative and transparent government" would be key to the future success of Cambodia and pledged that the government and people of the United States would continue to offer the Cambodia people "the hand of friendship and support" as they move forward.
