Embassy of the United States

Leaders of the NGO community,
Members of the Press,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to be here this morning for the signing of five Democracy Commission grants.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish you congratulations and the best of luck in carrying out these projects.  This year’s competition was extremely stiff.  We received scores of applications from a variety of prestigious Cambodian institutions and NGOs for the Small Grants program.

You should be proud of your success, but today is really only the beginning of your work. As we all know, Cambodia has only recently begun to emerge from its violent past.  In over 30 years of conflict, it suffered the almost total destruction of its physical infrastructure, its institutions, its human capital, and its cultural treasures.  Worse, there has been an erosion of trust – trust between people, trust in government, trust in institutions.  Without a restoration of this trust, we cannot rebuild Cambodia’s foundations.

Your projects will help rebuild this trust by strengthening civil society, preserving and protecting Cambodia’s cultural heritage, and promoting democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law.  These projects will reach out to groups that are too often overlooked--young Khmer women, the Cham Muslim community and rural populations--building respect and self-esteem within these communities.

I applaud and commend the dedication of each and every one of you. Thank you all for your hard work as we work together toward a prosperous and peaceful future for all Cambodians.