KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA
NATION – RELIGION – KING

Royal Government of Cambodia
Spokesman Office
No. 301

PRESS RELEASE
on the Cabinet Meeting of the Royal Government of Cambodia
17 September, 2004

On 17 September, 2004 at 08’30 a.m., the Cabinet Meeting of the Royal Government of Cambodia was held at the Office of the Council of Ministers and presided over by Samdech HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia to consider::

1. The draft Sub-Decree on mine clearance cooperation management for socio-economic development.
2. The proposed amendment to the Policy on clean water supply and rural sanitation.
3. Others

After going through careful discussions and exchange of views on the draft Sub-Decree on mine clearance cooperation management for socio-economic development, the Government Cabinet Meeting adopted this sub-decree which was prepared by the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) in its role as both regulator and coordinator for de-mining activities in the Kingdom of Cambodia. This draft sub-decree sets the terms for the cooperation administration on mine clearance by offering additional role to the CMAA to manage de-mining activities and assistance to mine victims. This sub-decree also requires the concerned provincial and municipal authorities as well as the development partners to play their role in this de-mining process. Furthermore, this sub-decree defines the scope of responsibility by the provincial and municipal authorities via the setting-up of de-mining committee’s at district level.

Besides, the provincial and municipal de-mining committees must set up different technical working groups to coordinate the various activities at community level affected by unexploded ordnances and mines. As far as the resources and budgetary support for this required management are concerned, it will be covered one part by the national budget and another part from the domestic and foreign resources or from other international organizations and stakeholders.

Moreover, the Government Cabinet Meeting also authorized the CMAA to include in this sub-decree other members and actors concerned with their respective provinces and municipalities in order to efficiently carry out their activities in line with the Government poverty reduction strategy, the Millennium Development Goals and other Governmental Plans.

Samdech HUN SEN Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia also gave his recommendations to the CMMA, especially to look for assistance from our partners to establish and print mine affected maps for each province, municipality and district.

On the proposed amendment to the policy on clean water supply and rural sanitation, the Government Cabinet Meeting also adopted this amendment submitted jointly by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Rural Development due to the fact that since the time that it came into effect, this policy focuses mainly on the executive role of the private sector and this does not yet answer to the requirements of donors which want to see the important role to be played by the Governmental institutions. As a result of the current limited capacity of the private sector to carry out this policy, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Rural Development proposed to amend this policy by adding a number of points such as:

- The role and responsibility of Government at national level be amended as …”the Governmental Institutions are tasked to come up with initiatives and ensure the supply of clean water and sanitation nationwide and gradually encourage the participation and capacity building of the private sector…”.

- The main role of the Government at national level be amended as ….” the service to supply clean water to the poor community in emergency case and in the areas where the private sector can not supply….”.

- The main role of the Government at provincial and municipal level be amended as …” the service to supply clean water to the poor community in emergency case and in the areas where the private sector can not supply….”.

Others:

Samdech HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia also gave a number of recommendations to the Office of the Council of Ministers to get in touch with the National Assembly to prepare the draft legislations that were sent by the Royal Government during its second term to the former and were not yet considered and adopted to re-submit to the Government Cabinet Meeting for consideration and approval so as to forward them again to the National Assembly – Third Legislature.

Samdech HUN SEN also instructed the Ministry of Transport and Communications to inspect and do its best so that the restoration of national road No. 7 – No.48 – No. 67 and No.68 can begin not later than the end of this rainy season or the beginning of new dry season.

The Government Cabinet Meeting closed its session at 11’10 a.m.

Phnom Penh, 17 September, 2004