On 13 November 1998 the CPP and FUNCINPEC issued a joint communiqué on the principles of co-operation approved at a summit meeting held at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. The communiqué was read out by Co-Minister of the Council of Ministers Office Sok An on Cambodian radio.

The text of the joint communiqué

During the summit meeting between the CPP and the FUNCINPEC held under the high royal chairmanship of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, on 12-13 November 1998, the following principles, which have been solemnly endorsed by His Majesty, have been adopted unanimously:

1.The two parties have agreed to create a Senate by amending the present Constitution. The main principles reached at the summit are stated in Appendix 1.

2.The CPP has supported Prince Krompreah Norodom Ranariddh's candidacy as chairman of the National Assembly.

3.The FUNCINPEC Party has supported CPP chairman Samdech Chea Sim's candidacy as chairman of the Senate.

4.The CPP has supported to candidates for the posts of senate vice chairmen from the FUNCINPEC Party. The FUNCINPEC Party has supported two candidates for the posts of the National Assembly vice chairmen from the CPP.

5.The FUNCINPEC Party has supported Samdech Hun Sen as the candidate for the post of Prime Minister of the Royal Government. As for the organization of the royal government, the line-up will be raised and discussed the commissions from the two parties.

6.The CPP and the FUNCINPEC Party have agreed to use the 'four plus four plus one' principle to allocate the committees of the National Assembly: The CPP will chair four committee, the FUNCINPEC four, and the Sam Rainsy Party one.

7.The National Assembly will reconvene on 25^th November 1998.

8.The CPP and the FUNCINPEC Party will create a number of commissions:

A. To institute a joint platform.

B. To prepare a protocol on co-operation between the two parties.

C. To amend the Constitution and other related laws so as to create a Senate as stated in the clause of this communiqué.

9.The CPP and the FUNCINPEC Party have agreed to form a royal coalition government with Samdech Hun Sen as Prime Minister.

10.The meeting has unanimously agreed to reintegrate the armed forces.

The CPP and the FUNCINPEC Party would like to profoundly thank His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who has enacted his paramount role in uniting and reconciling the nation, specifically in making the summit meeting a brilliant success for the sake of the supreme interests of the Cambodian nation and people in this new historic stage.

Phnom Penh, 13^th November 1998.

Source: BBC News.