New US ambassador presents credentials to king
The new US ambassador to Cambodia Patrick Murphy (Photo: Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy Twitter)
- Thmey Thmey
- October 20, 2019 4:03 AM
PHNOM PENH - The new US ambassador to Cambodia said he presented his credentials to King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday.
Patrick Murphy tweeted that he was now waiting to meet members of the government to discuss “efforts to strengthen friendship between the two countries.”
Murphy, who arrived in Cambodia in September, previously served as deputy assistant secretary for East Asia and the Pacific. Before that, he was deputy chief of mission in Bangkok and acting special representative and policy coordinator for Myanmar.
During his congressional nomination hearing, Murphy said he was committed to promoting democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms to advance US interests in Cambodia.
US lawmakers have threatened to review Cambodia's trade privileges and have passed legislation to punish the government for allegedly undermining democracy and violating human rights.
