UN, Cambodia begin exploratory talks on establishing special Khmer Rouge court

United Nations and Cambodian officials today began exploratory talks on the establishment of a special court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity.

Leading the UN delegation is Legal Counsel Hans Corell, while Senior Minister Sok An, who heads the Council of Ministers, leads the Cambodian side, which comes to New York after Prime Minister Hun Sen accepted Secretary-General Kofi Annan's invitation last month to hold an exploratory meeting in New York.

The invitation came just a day after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution requesting the UN chief to resume negotiations with Cambodia on setting up Extraordinary Chambers within the country's existing court structure.

Earlier, Mr. Corell told UN Radio in an interview that the United Nations was ready to make the court a reality. "Let us hope now that when Member States have gotten engaged here, and we have a resolution by the General Assembly adopted by [the] votes of 150 Member States, that this is a clear signal to the Government," he said.