A working group including three representatives from the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) will meet on January 3 to discuss an agenda for the upcoming negotiations between senior officials from both parties.

Head of the CPP working group Prum Sokha, who is Secretary of State at the Interior Ministry, said the two sides will meet at the Cambodian Senate building at 9am (local time) to work out an agenda for a future meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP President Sam Rainsy.

Sokha welcomed the CNRP’s return to the negotiating table after almost a month of demonstrations, and affirmed that the CPP’s position is unchanged and the only and best way to tackle the problem of the post-election disputes is through peaceful negotiations.

Meanwhile, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said his party will push for a programme focusing on reform, and call for a re-election. He noted that any upcoming meeting between Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy must be held in public.

However, Sokha said that the CPP will not allow a meeting with Hun Sen to be opened to the public, adding that the details of the meeting will be made clear in a press release.-VNA