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A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 13 February 2020
E.U. plans trade sanctions against Cambodia over rights record

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- in the 2018 polls, but drew
pean Union has declared condemnation from human
its intention to slap sanc- rights groups and Western
tions on Cambodia over nations, who charged that
what it considers to be the the election was neither
country's human rights and free nor fair, especially be-
trade union violations. cause a court ruling had
The EU's executive Commis- dissolved the only credible
sion said Wednesday that opposition party. The courts
it has decided to withdraw are generally seen as being
key tariff preferences that under the government's in-
amount to about one-fifth fluence.
of the billion euros ($1.1 bil- After the polls, the EU be-
lion) the Southeast Asian gan the process to con-
nation exports to the bloc sider withdrawing prefer-
each year. The sanctions ential duty-free and quota-
are due to start in half a free status for imports from
year unless the European Cambodia.
Parliament and EU member Human rights groups had
states raise objections. lobbied for the EU measure
"The European Union will to put pressure on Hun Sen.
not stand and watch as "The EU's action on EBA is
democracy is eroded, hu- In this Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, photo, garment factory workers walk out at the end of their work shift a slapdown of PM Hun Sen
man rights curtailed, and close to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. and his blatant disregard
free debate silenced," the Associated Press for human and labor rights,"
EU's foreign affairs chief, said Phil Robertson, deputy
Josep Borrel, said. "Today's decision as politically driv- counting for 45% of Cam- the withdrawal of the trad- Asia director for Human
decision reflects our strong en and devoid of objectiv- bodian exports in 2018. ing privileges was manage- Rights Watch. "The EU bent
commitment to the Cam- ity and impartiality, it said Cambodia's exports to the able. Though the re-impo- over backwards to give
bodian people, their rights, "Cambodia remains firmly EU, largely from the gar- sition of tariffs may hit the Hun Sen opportunities to re-
and the country's sustain- committed to further en- ment industry, were worth bottom line of Cambodian verse his brutal clampdown
able development. For the hancing its relations with the 5.4 billion euros ($6 billion) firms, he has said the EU on the political opposition,
trade preferences to be European Union based on in 2018, with 95.7% covered would no longer be able to NGO activists, trade union-
reinstated, the Cambodian the spirit of mutual respect by EBA tariff preferences. threaten or put any condi- ist and independent jour-
authorities need to take the and interest."Cambodia Cambodia's government tions on Cambodia. nalists, but over the past
necessary measures." is one of several develop- had anticipated the pros- Speaking to villagers on year he's doubled down on
Cambodia's Foreign Min- ing nations with whom the pect of sanctions being im- the outskirts of the capital his repressive tactics."
istry said in a statement it EU has an "Everything But posed. Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said "This is not the EU punishing
regretted the EU judgment, Arms" — or EBA — program Cambodia's Prime Minister it was more important for Cambodia, but rather Hun
which it said was "triggered granting preferential ac- Hun Sen, who has been in his country to maintain its Sen's arrogant indifference
by many misperceptions cess to the European mar- power for 35 years and has independence and sov- to human rights hurting the
and misunderstandings ket for products other than vowed to serve two more ereignty than to retain the Cambodian people who
about the actual realities in weapons. 5-year terms in office, said privileges. livelihoods may be impact-
Cambodia." The EU is Cambodia's larg- Tuesday that his country His party swept all the seats ed because of the EU's de-
Despite describing the EU est trading partner, ac- would not cave in and that in the National Assembly cision," Robertson said.q

NATO eyes boosting Iraq army

training, still needs Iraq’s OK

month after a U.S. missile between NATO defense only stay as long as we are
strike at Baghdad Airport ministers, NATO Secretary- welcome."
killed Iran's top general General Jens Stoltenberg "Everything we do will be
and Iraq's government said that they "agreed in in close consultation and
and lawmakers demand- principle to enhance" the coordination with the Iraqi
ed that foreign troops training effort in Iraq. government," he added.
leave. U.S. President Don- "In the first instance, this will Stoltenberg provided no
ald Trump, meanwhile, has consist of taking on some details of how many troops
demanded that U.S. allies of the global coalition's might shift to the current
do more in the Mideast. current training activities. training force numbering
U.S. Secretary for Defense Mark Esper, front center, shakes The NATO plan now is to Ministers also agreed to about 500 or what new
hands with British Defense Minister Ben Wallace during a move hundreds of train- explore what more we activities they might even-
group photo of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters ers working with the in- can do," he told reporters. tually undertake.
in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. ternational force fighting Asked why no agreement He said more would be
Associated Press the Islamic State group in was reached Wednes- known once he meets with
By LORNE COOK cial said Wednesday, but Iraq to NATO's own mis- day with the Iraqi govern- top officials in the anti-IS
Associated Press the Iraqi government is not sion helping to build up ment on green-lighting the coalition in Munich, Ger-
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO is yet ready to approve the the Iraqi army. No addi- move, Stoltenberg said many on Friday.
ready to expand its military move. The Canada-led tional personnel would be only that "we are already Officials have said "a cou-
training effort in Iraq, the operation was launched deployed to the strife-torn in Iraq based on an invita- ple of hundred" troops
alliance's top civilian offi- in 2018 but suspended last country.After chairing talks tion from Iraq and we will would move. q