The Royal Government of Cambodia has through the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has assisted Ukraine in mine clearance operations, as part of its efforts to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Under the support by the Government of Japan via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), CMAC has organised a training course on Demining Technologies for State Emergency Services of Ukraine (SESU) at the CMAC Technical Institute in Kampong Chhnang province.

The week-long course was successfully wrapped up in Siem Reap province last Friday under the presidency of H.E. Ouch Borith, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. TANINAI Ichitomo, Chargés d'Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, and Mr. Stanislav Kulykivsky, Head of Division for International Technical Assistance of the Department for European Integration and International Cooperation of Ukraine.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, H.E. Ouch Borith reiterated the Royal Government of Cambodia’s commitment for humanitarian support for Ukraine. He also spoke highly of Japan’s support, both technical and financial, through JICA.

For his part, Mr. TANINAI addressed that he hopes the number of victims of landmine in Cambodia and Ukraine will reach zero as quickly as possible with Japanese support.

According to CMAC, the Ukrainian demining officers received professional training and practical experience on minefields, along with additional demonstrations on Japan-made mine detection equipment and mine detection dog training.

Besides, they visited the Peace Museum of Mine Action in Siem Reap province and went to different demining sites in the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Battambang and Siem Reap, as well as the Angkor Archeological Park before concluding their training course.

After Cambodia, Ukrainian trainees will have another training funded by JICA in Poland.

The training courses are part of the humanitarian mine action in Ukraine resulted from the joint commitment between Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Kishida Fumio, in their bilateral meeting during the 2022 ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press