The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Cambodia has informed the MFAIC on 21 February 2018 of the suspension of the preferential visa treatment for Cambodia’s high-ranking officials. It has clarified however that such suspension does not have the same effect as a general visa restriction.
While the MFAIC can respect the sovereign decision of the German Government, we regret that such measures were taken without due consideration of Cambodia’s political realities and in total disregard of the legal and judicial independence of the country. The MFAIC considers the unilateral actions as politically motivated and prejudicially bias, which ran counter to the ongoing efforts of the two countries’ long-standing ties and bilateral cooperation.
The MFAIC considers that Germany’s reactions to Cambodia’s recent political development as hypocritical and a double standards, considering its different treatment towards various countries on the similar issue of democracy and respect for human rights.
That decision notwithstanding, the MFAIC reiterates Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to pursuing a liberal multi-party democracy in conformity with the Cambodian Constitution, to enforcing the rule of law, and to holding the parliamentary elections on 29 July 2018 in a free, fair and orderly manner.
