'Victory over Pol Pot ends bitter era of Cambodia'

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister said the victory over Pol Pot with Vietnam's help ended a bitter era and opened a new era for the country.

Mr. Neth Savoeun said the victory on January 7 "closed a bitter era and opened a period of revival for Cambodia," and expressed gratitude for the help of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed to overthrow the genocidal regime of Pol Pot. He stressed that without that victory, "there would be no Cambodia as it is today."

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun speaks at the ceremony to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the victory in the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland and the victory of the Cambodian army and people over the genocidal regime. Photo: VNA — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun speaks at the ceremony to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the victory in the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland and the victory of the Cambodian army and people over the genocidal regime. Photo: *VNA*

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai also assessed this as a common victory of the people of the two countries, contributing to firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two nations, closing the darkest page of Cambodia's history and saving the Cambodian people from the disaster of genocide.

After taking power in April 1975, the Pol Pot group took advantage of the revolutionary achievements, betrayed the people and established the Democratic Kampuchea, implementing a genocidal regime, plunging Cambodia into a terrible disaster unprecedented in history.

Not only spreading brutal crimes in the country, the Pol Pot group also mobilized most of its main military force to invade the southwestern border, seriously violating Vietnam's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as distorting history, stirring up hatred and trampling on the good values of the traditional neighborly friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia, according to Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai speaks at an event in Hanoi this morning. Photo: VNA — Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai speaks at an event in Hanoi this morning. Photo: *VNA*

Responding to the call of the Cambodian National United Front for National Salvation, Vietnam exercised its legitimate right of self-defense, stopped the invasion of the southwestern border, and helped the Cambodian revolutionary armed forces liberate the nation from genocide.

After the Pol Pot regime was overthrown, Vietnam sent many delegations of officials and experts to Cambodia to support the building of grassroots government and socio-economic recovery. By 1989, Vietnam had withdrawn all volunteer troops in Cambodia according to the agreement between the two countries, fulfilling a noble, pure, and rare international obligation in the history of international relations.

"We can truly say that Cambodia and Vietnam are examples of the best neighborly relations in the world, demonstrating kindness, brotherhood, friendship and loyalty," said Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun.

During his visit to Vietnam last December, Prime Minister Hun Manet also highly appreciated the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship which has been increasingly consolidated and developed in all fields, affirming that Cambodia will work with Vietnam to protect, preserve and nurture the relationship between the two countries to continue to develop to new heights and pass it on to future generations.

Thanh Tam

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