Final Act of the Paris Conference on Cambodia (Framework for a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict or Paris Accords)

• Country/entity

  Cambodia
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Final Act of the Paris Conference on Cambodia (Framework for a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict or Paris Accords)
• Date

  23 Oct 1991
• Agreement status

  Unilateral document
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Cambodia Conflict (1975 - 1999) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - comprehensive
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  Cambodian peace process
• Parties

  Unsigned copy of the agreement but based on the agreement text and additional research, parties are presumed to be those included in the Supreme National Council, namely: H.R.H Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the government of Cambodia, Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF), FUNCINPEC, Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge).
• Third parties

  Unsigned copy of the agreement but based on the agreement text and additional research, parties are presumed to be: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the French Republic, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
• Description

  A summary document of the Paris conference process in which the parties agree the adoption of the comprehensive political settlement, agreement on sovereignty, and the agreement on rehabilitation and reconstruction. Other issues covered include prisoner release, respect for human rights, an enhanced role for the United Nations in the run up to general elections, and a request for international funds to support Cambodia's reconstruction.

• Agreement document

  KH_911023_final_act.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Final Act of the Paris Conference on Cambodia

Concerned by the tragic conflict and continuing bloodshed in Cambodia, the Paris Conference on Cambodia was convened, at the invitation of the Government of the French Republic, in order to achieve an internationally guaranteed comprehensive settlement which would restore peace to that country.

The Conference was held in two sessions, the first from 30 July to 30 August 1989, and the second from 21 to 23 October 1991.

The co-Presidents of the Conference were H. E. Mr. Roland Dumas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, and H. E. Mr. Ali Alatas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

The following States participated in the Conference:

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the French Republic, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

In addition, the Non-Aligned Movement was represented at the Conference by its current Chairman at each session, namely Zimbabwe at the first session and Yugoslavia at the second session.

At the first session of the Conference, Cambodia was represented by the four Cambodian Parties.

The Supreme National Council of Cambodia, under the leadership of its President,

H.R.H. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, represented Cambodia at the second session of the Conference.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, and his Special Representative, Mr. Rafeeuddin Ahmed, also participated in the Conference.

The Conference organized itself into three working committees of the whole, which met throughout the first session of the Conference.

The First Committee dealt with military matters, the Second Committee dealt with the question of international guarantees, and the Third Committee with the repatriation of refugees and displaced persons and the eventual reconstruction of Cambodia.

The officers of each committee were as follows

First Committee

Co-Chairmen:

Mr. C.R. Gharekhan (India)

Mr. Allan Sullivan (Canada)

Rapporteur:

Ms. Victoria Sisante-Bataclan (Philippines)

Second Committee

Co-Chairmen:

Mr. Soulivong Phrasithideth (Laos)

Dato' Zainal Abidin Ibrahim (Malaysia)

Rapporteur:

Mr. Herve Dejean de la Batie (France)

Third Committee

Co-Chairmen:

Mr. Yukio Imagawa (Japan)

Mr. Robert Merrillees (Australia)

Rapporteur:

Colonel Ronachuck Swasdikiat (Thailand)

The Conference also established an Ad Hoc Committee, composed of the representatives of the four Cambodian Parties and chaired by the representatives of the two co-Presidents of the Conference, whose mandate involved matters related to national reconciliation among the Cambodian Parties.

The Ad Hoc Committee held several meetings during the first session of the Conference.

The Coordination Committee of the Conference, chaired by the representatives of the two co- Presidents, was established and given responsibility for general coordination of the work of the other four committees.

The Coordination Committee met at both the first and second sessions of the Conference.

An informal meeting of the Coordination Committee was also held in New York on 21 September 1991.

At the conclusion of the first session, the Conference had achieved progress in elaborating a wide variety of elements necessary for the achievement of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Cambodia.

The Conference noted, however, that it was not yet possible to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

It was therefore decided to suspend the Conference on 30 August 1989.

However, in doing so, the Conference urged all parties concerned to intensify their efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement, and asked the co-Presidents to lend their good offices to facilitate these efforts.

Following the suspension of the first session of the Conference, the co-Presidents and the Secretary-General of the United Nations undertook extensive consultations, in particular with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, with the Supreme National Council of Cambodia, and with other participants in the Paris Conference.

The object of these consultations was to forge agreement on all aspects of a settlement, to ensure that all initiatives to this end were compatible and to enhance the prospects of ending the bloodshed in Cambodia at the earliest possible date.

The efforts of the co-Presidents and the Secretary-General paved the way for the reconvening of the Paris Conference on Cambodia.

At the inaugural portion of the final meeting of the Paris Conference, on 23 October 1991, the Conference was addressed by H.E. Mr. Francois Mitterrand, President of the French Republic, H.R.H. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, President of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia, and H.E. Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

At the second session, the Conference adopted the following instruments:

Agreement on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict, with annexes on the mandate for UNTAC, military matters, elections, repatriation of Cambodian refugees and displaced persons, and the principles for a new Cambodian constitution;

Agreement concerning the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia;

and

Declaration on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia

These instruments represent an elaboration of the "Framework for a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict" adopted by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on 28 August 1990, and of elements of the work accomplished at the first session of the Conference.

They entail a continuing process of national reconciliation and an enhanced role for the United Nations, thus enabling the Cambodian people to determine their own political future through free and fair elections organized and conducted by the United Nations in a neutral political environment with full respect for the national sovereignty of Cambodia.

These instruments, which together form the comprehensive settlement the achievement of which was the objective of the Paris Conference, are being presented for signature to the States participating in the Paris Conference.

On behalf of Cambodia, the instruments will be signed by the twelve members of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia, which is the unique legitimate body and source of authority enshrining the sovereignty, independence and unity of Cambodia.

The States participating in the Conference call upon the co-Presidents of the Conference to transmit an authentic copy of the comprehensive political settlement instruments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The States participating in the Conference request the Secretary General to take the appropriate steps in order to enable consideration of the comprehensive settlement by the United Nations Security Council at the earliest opportunity.

They pledge their full cooperation in the fulfillment of this comprehensive settlement and their assistance in its implementation.

Above all, in view of the recent tragic history of Cambodia, the States participating in the Conference commit themselves to promote and encourage respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia, as embodied in the relevant international instruments to which they are party.

The States participating in the Conference request the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate, in accordance with its principles, the release of prisoners of war and civilian internees.

They express their readiness to assist the ICRC in this task

The States participating in the Conference invite other States to accede to the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict and to the Agreement concerning the Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Neutrality and National Unity of Cambodia.

Further recognizing the need for a concerted international effort to assist Cambodia in the tasks of rehabilitation and reconstruction, the States participating in the Conference urge the international community to provide generous economic and financial support for the measures set forth in the Declaration on the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Cambodia.

In witness whereof the representatives have signed this Final Act.

Done at Paris this twenty-third day of October one thousand nine hundred and ninety-one, in two copies in the Chinese, English, French, Khmer and Russian languages, each text being equally authentic.

The originals of this Final Act shall be deposited with the Governments of the French Republic and of the Republic of Indonesia.