i
Cambodia
CONFIDENTIAL
21. Sir John Coles pointed to recent encouraging developments: the ceasefire around Kompong Thom, the first refugee repatriation, the release of more political prisoners and other evidence that Akashi and UNTAC were successfully asserting their authority. Despite continuing scepticism (in the UK press and elsewhere) it was vital to keep the process on track. Extending the timetable would not ease the task, and would involve unwelcome additional costs. It would be a mistake to allow the Cambodians to become too dependent on outside help.
22.Herr Schlagintweit agreed that the success of the UN operation was crucial. It would serve as a model for elsewhere (...eg Afghanistan). However he remained concerned about the intentions, and willingness to cooperate, of the Khmer Rouge. UNTAC needed to
be strong enough to exercise effective control. On UNTAC financing,
Germany would meet its assessed contribution. But in confidence
Herr Schlagintweit explained that the planned contribution of medical teams was held up because of difficulties in the German Ministry of Defence (which now had a new Minister) over finding the funds required to supplement the UN allowances given to the medical personnel. Some DM 5-10 million was needed. The MFA was supporting a Defence Ministry bid for new money from the Ministry of Finance; but there was concern about setting a precedent. Sir J Coles said that the German contribution to UNTAC's operation was important: he hoped a solution would be found.
23. There was some discussion of possible differences of view within the KR between those who favoured the 'military option' and those who backed a political approach. Herr Schlagintweit asked about likely reaction if the KR did sufficiently well in the elections to
take on a dominant role. Sir J Coles said that the international
community had to rely on the elections being free, fair, and well-supervised, and to hope the KR won only limited support. But they could not be excluded from the process.
BESAEL
CONFIDENTIAL