PHNOM PENH: The First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), Senior Minister Ly Thuch, on behalf of Prime Minister Hun Sen (the Chairman of the CMAA) shared his experience and leadership in the field of mine action in Cambodia to the visiting Philippine Mine Action Delegation and other Stakeholders in attendance at the Cambodian Mine Action Stakeholders Workshop on Tuesday, 5 April 2022. The workshop was co-organized by the ASEAN Regional Center for Mine Action (ARMAC), the Suisse de Déminage Foundation (FSD) in France, the European Union (EU) and the Philippine Campaign for Mine Action.

On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Senior Minister informed the workshop that Cambodia, with its Mine Action Authority staff, is strongly committed to this cooperation and is ready to support mine action efforts in the region, not only during this year (the year of Cambodia's ASEAN Chairmanship), but at all times.

The Senior Minister said that in 2012, Cambodia, as the chair of ASEAN, initiated the idea of establishing an ASEAN Regional Center for Mine Action, recognizing that maintaining human security is an important part of ASEAN community building efforts, while striving to ensure that all ASEAN Member States and all sectors of society benefit from this process.

He added that the demining target for 2025 is a reminder for the mine action sector and a commitment by the demining world. He further explained that the mine sector needs to develop new skills and additional technologies that can enable all operators to perform their duties to the best of their ability, and it is a great achievement to be able to adapt the world to advanced skills and technology when speaking about mines and explosive remnants of war in order to save lives, especially those which are most vulnerable, and turn previously mine-afflicted areas into agricultural development areas, schools, hospitals and markets.

During the occasion, the Senior Minister also commended the commitment of all stakeholders to provide greater cooperation in the region and work closely with the continuation of the mine action mission to promote safety and help those who are affected by explosive remnants of war. He added that demining is our mission and that all development partners and stakeholders must work towards a mine-free world by 2025.