Hun Sen's former adviser to become Cambodia's foreign minister

PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) -- Cambodian Posts and Telecommunications Minister Prak Sokhon, a former adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, has been nominated as the country's new foreign minister.

Prak Sokhon told Kyodo News on Friday that there are "a number of very important missions" at the Foreign Ministry but refrained from elaborating further, saying his new position will not become official until parliament approves a proposed Cabinet reshuffle April 4.

The 61-year-old served as adviser to Hun Sen from 2004 to 2013, when he was appointed as minister of posts and telecommunications in September.

According to a list of names involving the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, 10 ministers will be removed or replaced.

Hun Sen revealed Thursday that he submitted a proposal to the National Assembly seeking to reshuffle some of his ministers, including current Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who has been in the position since the 1990s.

Hor Namhong is expected to retain his position as deputy prime minister and offer assistance on foreign affairs issues.

Last month, Hun Sen complained that some of his 27 ministers were inactive and passive in their work.

Many political observers, including senior members of the prime minister's ruling Cambodian People's Party, have acknowledged that "reform is life or death" for the survival of the CPP in the next general election in 2018.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 31 years, is expected to face a tough election in 2018 if serious reform fails to materialize by then.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has been criticizing and blaming Hun Sen's CPP for corruption, deforestation and land grabbing, among other social problems.

source http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Hun-Sen-s-former-adviser-to-become-Cambodia-s-foreign-minister