California City Council Suely Saro Honors the Cambodian 1991 Paris Peace Accords
Today, we commemorate the thirty-fourth anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, a historic milestone that ended years of conflict and restored hope to the Cambodian people. Signed on October 23, 1991, this historic agreement represented not only the conclusion of decades of internal conflict but also the triumph of diplomacy, dialogue, and the collective will for peace.
The Paris Peace Agreement remains a remarkable achievement of multilateral diplomacy. Bringing together nineteen signatory states and Cambodia’s four major factions, it demonstrated that peace is attainable when dialogue replaces violence and cooperation overcomes division. The Agreement established a comprehensive framework for ceasefire, repatriation, free elections, and the protection of human rights—principles that continue to shape Cambodia’s political and social development to this day.
As stated in the Agreement’s Declaration on the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Cambodia:
“Cambodia shall never again become the arena of war and confrontation, and the Cambodian people shall be masters of their own destiny.” These words capture the spirit of the Paris Peace Agreement—its vision of sovereignty, unity, and peace. They remind us that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, freedom, and human dignity. Though challenges have persisted over the decades, the legacy of 1991 endures as a symbol of hope and the enduring power of diplomacy, and also a mission that helped reestablish order, restore institutions, and lay the foundations for democratic governance.
As we honor this anniversary, let us pay tribute to the statesmen, diplomats, and citizens whose courage and wisdom made this peace possible. Let us also renew our collective commitment to safeguarding the principles enshrined in Paris—dialogue, reconciliation, respect for human rights, and democratic governance.
May the memory of this historic accord continue to inspire future generations to uphold peace not only in Cambodia, but in the US and throughout the world.
