PHNOM PENH: On Tuesday, 5 April 2022, the Minister of Interior, DPM Sar Kheng, received a courtesy call from the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, Pauline Tamesis, and her colleagues, on the occasion of the completion of her mission in Cambodia.
At the beginning of the meeting, DPM Sar Kheng, on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and the National Commission for Decentralization and Deconcentration, thanked the UN Resident Coordinator and expressed his appreciation for the organizations under the auspices of the UN for their excellent cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia, as well as with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant organizations.
DPM Sar Kheng stated that while the world is facing the Covid-19 crisis, Cambodia has achieved remarkable results in prevention as well as the in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which he considers an inseparable achievement from the contribution and support of the UN.
In response, Pauline Tamesis expressed her gratitude for the partnership between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the UN, as well as organizations under the auspices of the UN. She said that there have been a number of factors that have contributed to the success of the response to Covid-19, including the unity of the whole world in address emergencies. Additionally, in Cambodia, the success can also be attributed to good coordination between the national and sub-national levels in addressing the challenges of the pandemic.
During this opportunity, she also noted that the community has been closely cooperating with local authorities on addressing social welfare issues, as well as the involvement of local authorities in identifying vulnerable people appropriately on time.
She added that the UN has been cooperating closely with the Ministry of Interior during the Covid-19 pandemic on the work related to protecting detainees and assisting migrants from returning to the country. She expressed her high appreciation for the contribution of national and sub-national administrations in their efforts to address the issue.
The UN Resident Coordinator also informed DPM Sar Kheng that the UN remains committed to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia in various fields to adapt the Royal Government of Cambodia's Rectangular Strategy.
DPM Sar Kheng further encouraged continuing to work on projects that are being implemented together with unfinished projects. At the same time, he also said that he would like to continue implementation and get better results, especially on the work of protecting women and children.
In addition, he also informed the UN Resident Coordinator that the Royal Government of Cambodia has recently launched a second 10-year plan on decentralization and deconcentration reform, with the main activities of the second phase of the 10-year plan focused on the continued transfer of authority and resources, both human and financial, to the sub-national level, as well as the further enhancement of the participation of the people and the public on this work of decentralization and deconcentration reform.
He particularly requested that the UN continue to review the second phase of the 10-year plan in order to be able to provide support for any part or activity of this plan.
Finally, DPM Sar Kheng also thanked and congratulated Pauline Tamesis for her work in Cambodia, and wished her continued good health and success in her new upcoming mission.
