On January 5, the Vietnam Fatherland Font Central Committee organized a ceremony to mark the 35th anniversary of the southwest border defense war victory. The celebration aims to recognize the victory’s historical landmark and valuable support from the Vietnamese people and army in the liberation of Cambodia from the Pol Pot genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - January 7, 2014).

Attending the ceremony were President Truong Tan Sang, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, leaders of the Party and State, leaders of some sectors, industries, branches and unions, generals, international friends, representatives from the families of war invalids and martyrs, former Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers. The meeting also attracted the participation of Cambodian National Assembly Chairman and President of the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of the Cambodian Motherland Heng Samrin and Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association Men Sam An.

Speaking at the event, State President Truong Tan Sang reiterated that the Vietnamese and Cambodian people share deep wishes for peace to recover and reconstruct their nations after many years of war. However, the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan betrayed the Cambodian people and sabotaged the tradition of solidarity and friendship between the two peoples. They carried out a genocidal policy in Cambodia and launched an invasion of Vietnam’s southwestern border region.

Reigning from 1975-1979, the genocidal regime killed nearly three million Cambodian civilians in only three years, eight months and 20 days, destroyed all social facilities and pushed the Cambodian nation to the brink of perdition, he recalled, adding that their crimes were strongly condemned by the international community.

In response to the Cambodian people, Vietnam practiced its self defense rights and joined the Cambodian people and armed forces with the support of international friends to defeat the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.

State President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that this historic victory is a joint victory and joyfulness of the two people’s in their protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, closing the darkest pages of Cambodian history, saving Cambodian people from genocide disaster and opening up a new era of independence, peace, freedom, neutrality and development for the Cambodian people.

State President Truong Tan Sang expressed the deepest gratitude towards Vietnamese and Cambodian heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for independence, freedom and the common fate of both nations, for the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship and solidarity, as well as for peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia and the world,” State President Truong Tan Sang said.

State President Truong Tan Sang underscored that the pure solidarity between people of Vietnam and Cambodia will be inscribed forever in history and can not be distorted by any forces. “Looking back over the past 35 years, we are proud that the good neighbourliness and traditional friendship, and the comprehensive, sustainable and long-standing cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries, have been growing unceasingly,” he said.

On this occasion, State President Truong Tan Sang thanked the Cambodian people for their support and assistance to Vietnam during the cause for national liberation in the past as well as the current cause of national construction and defense.

Addressing the ceremony, Cambodian National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin expressed his pleasure to attend the ceremony to recall the days when Vietnamese volunteer soldiers exercised their lofty mission in helping the Cambodian people escape from the most brutal genocidal regime and gain victory on January 7, 1979.

He hailed the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers’ support to liberate Cambodia from the Pol Pot genocidal regime and the victory day on January 7, 1979 has been the 2nd birthday of the Cambodian people. He said: “This meeting today is an important event of the Party, State and people of Vietnam who sacrificed themselves for the resuscitation of the Cambodian people. This is an opportunity for us to pay respect and tribute to the great support by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and world friends in sharing the Cambodian people’s suffering. Without the Vietnamese solders’ sacrifice, Cambodian soldiers wouldn’t have had the opportunity to win on January 7, 1979. The Vietnamese People’s Army sacrifice has brought about major victory for the Cambodian people.”

The Cambodian people will keep in mind the great merit and remember its history to remind younger generations of the assistance, he said, adding that without the help by the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Cambodian people would not have their name in the world.

The Cambodian legislative leader went on to say that since the victory in 1979, Cambodia has seen various changes in many fields. Vietnam and Cambodia have always made great efforts to develop fine bilateral relations and comprehensive cooperation, and supported each other at international forums.

Under the leadership of the current governments, Cambodia and Vietnam have signed an agreement on land borders and boosted economic development on the basis of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the Cambodian official.

Cambodia always considers the special friendship and solidarity between the two countries under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Cambodia People’s Party as an invaluable asset, which requires it to do its utmost to preserve.

VOV