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Sujit Chatterjee in Phnom Penh
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday night offered to consider Cambodia's proposal for an Indian judge to try Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for the genocide of two million of people from 1975 to 1979, if the United Nations refused to participate.
The two countries also signed three accords, including an air services agreement.
"The question of assistance in the trial of Khmer Rouge leaders was discussed. We had offered to send a judge to participate in the trial. If the UN finally says no, then a decision will be taken," Vajpayee, who arrived in Cambodia from Singapore on the second leg of his two-nation tour said after the three agreements were initialled in the presence of the two prime ministers.
The UN has stated that due to differences in the approach to set up an International Tribunal and flaws in Khmer Rouge law as passed by Cambodia, it is unlikely to associate itself with any trial for Khmer Rouge leaders.
The air services agreements signed by the Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie and Cambodian Senior Minister Sok An lays the foundation for Indian commercial aircraft to fly to this country.
Another agreement provides for Indian assistance in restoration of the famous Ta Prohm temple in the world heritage site of Angkor Wat, while the third accord gives visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.
Vajpayee, who held wide-ranging talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, said Phnom Penh has declared support to India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and backed New Delhi's policy on a peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir.
On Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, Vajpayee said Hun Sen agreed that the civilised world has to take measures to stamp out the menace.
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