Cambodia marks 10th anniversary of troop deployment in war-torn countries

Cambodia on Tuesday commemorated the 10-year achievements of peacekeeper deployment in war-torn countries under the framework of the United Nations and vowed to continue its contributions for the sake of world peace.

Held at the Peace Palace here, the event hosted some 700 people, who are government officials, UN representatives, diplomatic corps, foreign military attaches to Cambodia and armed forces.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Sen said since 2006, 3,557 Cambodian troops, including 118 females, have joined the UN peacekeeping missions in eight countries including Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Syria and Cyprus.

Currently, 888 of the troops remain on their duties in Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, Mali and Central African Republic, he said.

"It is the pride for Cambodia that its flag has been hoisted along with flags of other countries that have contributed their troops for the UN peacekeeping missions," he said.

"We will continue joining peacekeeping operations in countries when there are requests from the UN."

According to the prime minister, over the past decade, four Cambodian troops were killed and several others wounded during their missions.

Prak Sokhonn, chairman of the National Coordination Committee of UN Peacekeeping Operation, said Cambodian peacekeepers have worked on landmine clearance, security and public order maintaining, health care, road, bridge and airport construction and military observation.

"Cambodia is the third highest country in ASEAN with the deployment of troops abroad under the framework of the United Nations," he said.

Claire Van der Vaeren, Resident Coordinator of the UN Development Program to Cambodia, admired Cambodia for transforming itself from a country that received UN peacekeeping forces 23 years ago into a country that deployed thousands of troops abroad.

"Today with pride, Cambodia celebrates 10 years of contribution to UN peacekeeping forces, hereby ensuring global security and peace operations to address complex conflicts and protect civilians, unquestionably the most important task of all," she said.

Military attaches of donor countries including the United States, China, India, Japan, France and Australia were invited to deliver speeches at the event.

Li Ningya, military attache of the Chinese embassy to Cambodia, hailed Cambodia for its active participation in the UN peacekeeping operation.

"As I know, Cambodia is the biggest troop contributor among eight contributing countries in Southeast Asia and the 24th among 122 contributing countries all over the world," he said.

According to Li, China has supported Cambodian peacekeepers for several years through providing training courses and materials. Enditem