The ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have agreed on three main issues related to the reform of electoral mechanism in the future.

According to a joint statement released after the first meeting of the joint committee on electoral reforms on March 3 in Phnom Penh, the two parties agreed to organise candidate and voter registration in order to ensure and protect voting rights of all citizens.

They will draft a budget law for political parties, while continuing to discuss the reform of electoral agencies, the design of a mechanism to handle irregularities in election, and the guarantee of the political parties' access to the media.

The two sides also agreed to continue meeting on March 10.

Speaking after the talks, Son Chhay, leader of CNRP’s negotiation team, said his party will not change their stance on the conduct of a re-election.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Bin Khin, who led the CPP’s team, underscored that the implementation of a re-election must be abide by the constitution which stipulates that the re-election will only be considered if the Royal Government is twice deposed within a year.

The political dispute in Cambodia has persisted since the July election results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

Claiming serious irregularities during the poll, the CNRP refused to accept the outcome and has boycotted parliament and held many protests in order to demand the resignation of Hun Sen and a re-election.-VNA