In a message sent to the Khmer Times newspaper, Rafael Ingaryev, the press attache of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Phnom Penh, revealed that the head of the delegation at the meeting would be Lavrov.
Cambodia, as president of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend meetings related to the regional bloc, but his presence had already been rejected.
On the other hand, and according to the source, ASEAN failed to reach a consensus to give Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky the opportunity to issue a video statement during the group’s summit.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed to the Khmer Times yesterday that the plan had been canceled due to a lack of consensus among the bloc’s 10 member states, “although the Cambodian Presidency supported the initiative,” the publication detailed.
In a recent telephone conversation with the current head of ASEAN, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Zelensky requested a video statement during the summit, in the midst of an armed conflict with Russia.
In any case, Prak Sokhnom, the host foreign minister, is expected to lead the signing of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Spain and Ukraine.
So far, participation in the 40th and 41st ASEAN summits and other related events has been confirmed by the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Pham Minh Sign and China, Li Keqiang, who is already on an official visit.
In addition, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, the Head of Government of Japan, Fumio Kishida and Justin Trudeau of Canada and the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar will also participate.
According to a White House press release issued by local media, Biden will reaffirm “the United States’ enduring commitment to Southeast Asia” and the centrality of ASEAN, and seeks to build on the success of the recent special summit between his country and the United States. Will do and block.
JF/MPM
