PHNOM PENH. Dec 11: With Southeast Asian nations still split on whether Cambodia should be admitted into its regional bloc next week. Prime Minister Hun Sen sounded pessimistic Friday about his country's chances at entry, reports AP.

Hun Sen will travel to Hanoi . for a state visit two dqys, before , -the Dec 15-16 summit of the Association of Southeast Nations. He appeared Friday to have already accepted that the consensus required among ASEAN's nine countries to admit Cambodia would probably not emerge.

He said before a Cabinet meeting that whether or not Cambodia is able to enter ASEAN at next week's summit, "it will still remain a future member of the association."

But Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong expressed cautious optimism on admittance as he left for the Hanoi summit on Friday along with Finance Minister Keat Chhon.

"Well see. It depends on ASEAN." Hor Nam Hong said at the Phnom Penh airport.

Cambodia was originally scheduled to Join ASEAN in July 1997 along with Laos and Myanmar, but its application was indefinitely suspended when Hunsen ousted nis coprime minister Prince Nqrodom Ranariddh in a.yio-leht coup d'etat.

Following a disputed elec; tion in July. Hun Sen and Ranariddh set aside their difference last month and formed a coalition government. Hun Sen was made sole Prime Minister in the deal, and the prince became president of the National Assembly.

Hun Sen’s new government has lobbied hard to regain the international legitimacy Cambodia lost after the coup, and on Monday it successfully reclaimed its seat the United Nations.

Sam. Rainsy said the government must do more to curb political violence and promote democracy.