Little progress on Kampuchea

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 8

Little progress on Kampuchea

NZPA-Reuter New York The United Nations Secretary General. Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar, said yesterday that efforts this year to find a peaceful solution to the Kampuchean problem had made little progress. In a report to the General Assembly he also said that the food supply inside Kampuchea could now be regarded as acceptable, provided the current ' monsoon did not cause it to deteriorate. Kampucheans ■ who had sought refuge along the ThaiKampuchea border and in Thailand would continue to depend on international relief aid. The report resulted from a General Assembly resolution last year, which called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea, appealed for continuation of relief help to Kampucheans still in need, and the exercise of the Secretary-General’s good offices in the search for a comprehensive political settlement. The Kampuchea problem stems from Vietnam's invasion of that country in December, 1978, and the replacement of the Khmer Rouge government, headed by Pol Pot, by one led by Heng Samrin. The United Nations continued, however, to recognise the Khmer Rouge government, which recently became part of a broader coalition headed by Prince Norodom Sihanouk.

Mr Perez de Cuellar said that Iwr'Snd a special representative, Rafeeuddin Ahmed, had made many contacts to help end the fighting in Kampuchea and had consulted the countries concerned. But efforts regrettably did not achieve substantial progress towards a resolution of the problem.” But consultations had led to a better perception of the problem and encouraged dialogue, which if pursued further, could help lead to negotiations on fundamental issues, he said. Wide differences continued to exist between the parties concerned about the nature of the problem and on methods to gain a peaceful solution.