Australia is one of the longest standing supporters of mine clearance action in Cambodia, participating in the government’s goal setting of mine-free status by 2025, said a senior official.

H.E. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), made the remark in a meeting held here earlier this week with H.E. Ms. Kathryn Campbell, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.

Australia is considered to be a prominent and strong partner for mine action in Cambodia, he stressed.

H.E. Ly Thuch expressed his deep gratitude to the Government of Australia for its support for the humanitarian mine action sector in Cambodia since 1994, contributing to saving millions of lives from landmines and explosive remnants of war.

He requested the Australian government to continue supporting mine clearance operations in Cambodia until the last demining.

For her part, H.E. Ms. Kathryn Campbell praised and appreciated the achievements of Cambodia in mine clearance and pledged to continue to support the demining activities in Cambodia.

On June 14, H.E. Ms. Kathryn Campbell held a meeting with H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny, Director General of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC), during which she reaffirmed Australia’s continued support to strengthen the capacity of Cambodian blue helmet troops, especially the female ones.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press