Untitled Document

Opening Speech of Senior Minister H.E. SOK AN
Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers
and Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action
and Victim Assistance Authority
at the National Conference on Mine Action Achievements

Excellencies Ambassadors, Representatives of Donors
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Today, on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, the CMAA, I have a great honour to preside over the opening of the National Conference on Mine Action Achievements held at this office of the Council Ministers. I warmly welcome Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives from donors, mine action operators, relevant ministries, national and international organizations whose not only spent your valuable time to participate at this worthwhile event but also to having assisted the mine sector in Cambodia for a long time

Your presence in this half-day-long conference clearly indicates and give the floor to relevant organizations to present their achievement in fighting against landmines and unexploded ordnance left over by protracted civil wars in Cambodia, and your continued commitment in this endeavours and movement toward a world free of mine use and production.

The aims of the Conference are on one hand to recognize the efforts of all operators who have contributed their dedication to the demining and have helped saving lives of our innocent people and seeking a way ahead to reduce casualties and claim more land, in accordance with the Royal Government’s Poverty Alleviation Policy on another hand.

You all have been chosen as a target operation to assist rural areas of Cambodia free from landmines. You all have been working hard for more than ten years in mine action and have been cooperating sincerely with our communities at all level and more importantly with the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority –the CMAA as we agree to speed up mine action operation in order to achieve zero mine victims in 2012, the goal of Royal Government of Cambodia.

The experience of Cambodia has demonstrated many positive developments and philosophies that have been of great benefit not only to Cambodia its self but also contributing to the international mine action. It is the policy of the Royal Government to share its hard earned experiences with other mine affected countries strengthening of partnerships and the experiences that will assist the global eradication the scourge of landmines and the terrible effects that they have on innocent people.

Through these more than 10 years of effort, we have drawn considerable experiences and good lessons, furthermore we have secured satisfactory results if we compare these results with the objectives that were previously set for implementation, - and now we can assess the strengths and weaknesses as well as the challenges and easiness for mine action operations in Cambodia. Based on these results, we will consider measures for action aimed at further accelerating the current momentum; - so that we are steadily and productively move forward.

Landmines have limited the ability to use natural resources, especially the use of land by the rural poor. This is a reason for migration of people leaving their home villages to cities, - that has resulted in serious socio-economic and environmental problems.

Thus, on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, allow me to also express my profound gratitude to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, European Union, France, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America, and other United Nations agencies and international organizations namely UNDP, UNICEF and CARE for kindly support to mine action in Cambodia in terms of technical and financial assistance.

And in an effort to bring the accident rate down to zero, on behalf of RGC I would also thank all mine action operators including CMAC, CRC, MAG, The Halo Trust, Handicap International, World Vision International, NPA, and Geneva International Center. All these national and international organizations have been in close cooperation with CMAA while the latter has been performing its role as a regulator and coordinator for those organizations to successfully perform and implement their operations and I would wish you all positive and fruitful presentation.

Finally, in light of deep feeling of gratitude, I am please to announce the official opening of this Conference.