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Cruise Passengers Stranded by Coronavirus Fears Greeted With Roses in
Cambodia

Associated Press

   SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA - Hundreds of cruise ship passengers long
   stranded at sea by virus fears cheered as they finally disembarked
   Friday and were welcomed to Cambodia by the nation's authoritarian
   leader who handed them flowers.

   Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to let the Westerdam dock at the port of
   Sihanoukville on Thursday after Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, the
   Philippines and Guam had barred the ship earlier.

   "Today, although Cambodia is a poor country, Cambodia has always joined
   the international community to solve the problems that the world and
   our region are facing," he said as the first passengers disembarked.

   "How wonderful it is to be here. Thank you very much to the prime
   minister. He has a wonderful heart," said Anna Marie Melon, from
   Queensland, Australia. "I'm very excited (to be here)," she said as she
   waved a rose Hun Sen handed to her.

   Cambodia 'did a great job'

   The passengers cheered as they walked toward waiting buses and waved
   goodbye to other passengers watching from the ship's deck.

   "Your country did a great job. Did a wonderful job. Thank you very
   much. We appreciate it very much," Joe Spaziani, 74, from Florida, told
   reporters. He and many other passengers wore a krama, a traditional
   Cambodian scarf, around their necks.

   "Cambodia alone, even the United States, Guam, did not let us land, but
   Cambodia did, so that's wonderful. Absolutely wonderful," Spaziani
   said. "We appreciate it very, very much. It's been a long struggle and
   we appreciate everyone being here."

   The Westerdam was unwelcome elsewhere even though operator Holland
   America Line said no cases of the COVID-19 viral illness have been
   confirmed among its 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members. Some 20
   passengers had reported stomachaches or fever, but tests for the virus
   done at the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh showed none had the
   illness.

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