The Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS) will further promote its cooperation with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) on mine clearance in Cambodia.
The commitment was reaffirmed by Gen. Yamazaki Koji, President of JMAS, while he was paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet at the Peace Palace here this morning.
In the meeting, Gen. Yamazaki Koji briefed the Cambodian Premier on the outcomes of good cooperation between JMAS and CMAC so far, saying that under the cooperation, 6,000 hectares of landmines and UXO have been cleared while 20,000 anti-personnel mines have been found and destroyed.
Besides mine clearance, JMAS has contributed to many other activities such as assisting local people in agriculture and education by providing them with techniques to increase their yields, raising people’s awareness about the danger of landmines, evacuating people from landmine-affected areas, and building some infrastructure for rural communities, including schools.
In respons
e, Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister expressed his warm welcome to Gen. Yamazaki Koji’s visit, and thanked the Government and people of Japan for their support for Cambodia, from the peace-seeking process until the current development.
Mine and UXO clearance remain a key priority of the Royal Government of Cambodia, underlined Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, lauding the good cooperation between JMAS and CMAC on mine and UXO clearance operations, which have contributed to liberating Cambodian people from this war legacy as well as to boosting the Kingdom’s socio-economic development.
Since 1992, Cambodia has cleared a total of more than 3,000 square kilometres and will do her best to clear some 1,700 more square kilometres.
Before concluding, Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister encouraged JMAS to continue to strengthen and expand its cooperation with CMAC and other demining operators in Cambodia, and reiterated the Royal Government’s commitment for humanitarian demining activities in other countries.
Source: Agence
Kampuchea Presse
