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

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

They will draft a budget law for political parties, while continuingto discuss the reform of electoral agencies, the design of a mechanismto handle irregularities in election, and the guarantee of the politicalparties' 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 negotiationteam, said his party will not change their stance on the conduct of are-election.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister Bin Khin, who led the CPP’s team, underscored that theimplementation of a re-election must be abide by the constitution whichstipulates that the re-election will only be considered if the RoyalGovernment is twice deposed within a year.

Thepolitical dispute in Cambodia has persisted since the July electionresults showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seatsfor the CNRP.

Claiming serious irregularities duringthe poll, the CNRP refused to accept the outcome and has boycottedparliament and held many protests in order to demand the resignation ofHun Sen and a re-election.-VNA