Keynote Address at the Commemoration of the 147th Anniversary of the World Red Cross-Red Crescent Day

Keynote Address at the Commemoration of the 147^th Anniversary of the World Red Cross-Red Crescent Day

Under the Theme of “Saving Lives – Changing Mindsets”

Phnom Penh, 8^th May 2010

- Excellencies, Oknhas, Ladies and Gentlemen,

- Distinguished National and International Guests!

Today, it is indeed my pleasure and honor to be here once again in the Commemoration of the 147^th Anniversary of the World Red Cross-Red Crescent Day, under the theme of “Saving Lives – Changing Mindsets”, as all the Cambodian people had just received the blessings of the Khmer New Year, the Year of Tiger 2554 B.E. in mid April this year. Also, as all the Cambodian people are bracing for the celebration of the birthday of HIS MAJESTY the KING, NORODOM SIHAMONI OF CAMBODIA, I would like to reaffirm my unflinching sincerity to HIS MAJESTY who have always treated his people with compassion, provided the most valuable support to the Royal Government in the pursuit of peace, national stability, solidarity and social development, and taken part humanitarianly in improving the standard of living and harmony among the people. I, with deepest respect, would like to wish HIS MAJESTY NORODOM SIHANOUK, the KING-FATHER OF CAMBODIA, HER MAJESTY NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK, the QUEEN MOTHER OF CAMBODIA and HIS MAJESTY KING NORODOM SIHAMONI OF CAMBODIA longevity, healthiness, and wisdom to remain as the umbrella of all Cambodian people.

This is an important event for the Cambodian Red Cross as well as the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia as it attests to the common will, determination and effort among all stakeholders to bolster socio-economic development and rescue people threaten by natural disasters.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Royal Government and myself, I would like to extend my deep appreciation to H.E. Dr. Bun Rany HUN SEN, president of the Cambodian Red Cross, all levels of management and officials of the organization, Cambodian Red Cross volunteers, as well as donors, national and international organizations for the support and well cooperation in implementing humanitarian acts within the framework all strategic plans of the Cambodian Red Cross and numerous achievements have been made. I would like to note that the Cambodian Red Cross has been an instrumental force in social development, poverty reduction and the protection of humanity.

In particular, over the last decade, the Cambodian Red Cross fulfilled its role efficiently in life rescue missions, response and prevention against natural disasters, diseases e.g. HIV/AIDS, dengue fever, bird flu, participation in public health services, promotion of the principle and value of humanity, provision of first aid services in community, supply of clean water, early warning system for flood, drought and storm, education, reduction of UXOs casualties, and traffic safety and so forth. Along with this, we acknowledge that the Cambodian Red Cross has always faced with daunting challenge in mobilizing human and financial resources, rescue equipments, and other support to respond effectively to the urgent needs of victims. However, in spite of some drawbacks, the Cambodian Red Cross has received technical, financial and mental support from national and international organizations, domestic and overseas donors. These contributions have always been effectively and transparently managed and utilized for saving the victims without racial, sexual, political and religious discrimination. These donations and kindhearted attitudes reflect mutual care and support of our people during difficult time. Base on critical thinking methodology, this kindness is the spirit inherited from the cultural heritage of our ancestors dating back centuries ago, and this spirit has been flourishing in the mindset of Cambodian people of this generation and has been evolving into the “culture of sharing”, which is the foundation and guideline for the starting of humanitarian activities of the Cambodian Red Cross Movement which is the biggest humanitarian organization in the country since its inception on 18^th February 1955.

The increasing demand for natural resources to meet the demand of economic developments of developing countries in the world, characterized by globalization, has triggered climate change and global warming. Given this reality, I am of the view that more disasters of huge magnitude will occur in the future and pose threat to security, safety and livelihood of mankind all over the world. Of that, Cambodian people will not be able to escape from impact of those disasters. Obviously, disasters such as Ketsana typhoon which occurred in 2009 and the recent cyclone which destroyed houses, property and claimed the lives of our people several weeks ago are clear examples. In this sense, I strongly believe that from now on, the Cambodian Red Cross will always be the biggest humanitarian institution in Cambodia and continue to play the role as an effective assistant to the government and active partner to all stakeholders in humanitarian sector to address and relieve all struggles of our people. In this essence, I would like to remind the Cambodia Red Cross to continue making effort to actively and strongly fulfill its mission aiming at making achievements as inscribed in the vision of the Cambodia Red Cross for the cause of “Saving Lives - Changing Mindsets” of the general public in relation to humanitarian issues, promoting the virtue of mankind and contributing to poverty reduction of the people.

In this spirit, I would like to highly value the Cambodia Red Cross for making effort to strengthen and develop its institutional capacity until receiving the recognition and support from national and international development partners and donors in the region and the world. At the same time, I still give full support to the idea of involving volunteers, particularly youth, into Cambodia Red Cross’s activities such as raising the awareness, preventing and responding to disasters, providing health care and fundamental first aid services to victims. Indeed, the government has always given priority and attention to socio-economic development in order to ensure the support for humanitarian activities of Cambodia Red Cross. Undeniably, the difficulty that we are facing is huge, but it is incomparable to the misery and suffering which happened during Pol Pot genocidal regime and the struggle after 7^th January 1979. During that time, we were living in extreme exhaustion without sufficient food, with diseases and mental scars. Nevertheless, we could together overcome all obstacles gradually.

I may recall that during that hard time, the Cambodia Red Cross was reborn from the disruption of war and worked with the government to relieve the hardship of the people, especially rescued people from starvation and all kinds of struggles. In this regards, I do believe that to this end, the Cambodia Red Cross must continue to give priority to strongly, deeply and more extensively fulfilling its humanitarian missions in “Saving Lives - Changing Mindsets” of mankind which aims at mobilizing great national and international solidarity force to prevent, combat and to cope with all disasters that will happen to our Cambodian people in a timely, effective and efficient manner.

Now a day the world is confronting with natural catastrophes such as earthquake, seaquake that causes the tsunami, volcanic eruption and hurricane, which occur more frequently and at bigger magnitude causing devastation to property, houses, crops, rice field and farms and people’s lives and cast burden to the society. At the same time, due to development gap, people migrated from the rural areas to urban and populated areas and this trend is on the rise in a number of countries all over the world, especially in developing and least developed countries. Apparently, over the last two decades, in cities of developing countries, the population reaches almost 95%, this trend makes cause anarchic dwelling and construction of houses in cities and urban areas. Furthermore, the demand for energy and food and the economic, social and health problems are on the rise. Moreover, the more concerning issues are those relating to construction and urbanization. Due to the fact that infrastructure system has not been in order and not conforming to the technical standard, various obstacles for the human acts such as traffic accidents, congestion, fire, sewage stuck, and these issues have been known to have cast negative impact on the socio-economic development as well as placing heavy burden on the whole nation.

According to this view, I would like to fully support the Cambodia Red Cross who has selected the theme of “Saving Lives – Changing Mindsets” as the key message for its campaign during the Commemoration of the 147^th Anniversary of the World Red Cross-Red Crescent Day 8^th May this year and for including it in the strategic framework 2011-2020 by highlighting the 3 significant mottos as the catalysts to strengthen the life saving activity, hence, to ”take more actions” “make it better” and “take a step deeper and farther than before” in its humanitarian operation in order to continue to contribute to poverty reduction, enhancement of the respect of human rights and dignity of human being. Along with this, I would like to appeal to people in all levels, institutions, authorities and related units to put further effort, and closely and actively cooperate for the cause of transforming the above slogan and 3 mottos to be a practical and constant activity like drizzling rain in order to solve all challenges faced by the people in the sense of “Saving lives – Changing Mindsets” base on the 7 main principles of the World Red Cross-Red Crescent Movement, which includes being “humanitarian, impartial, neutral, independent, voluntary and universal”.

In this connection, I would like to put up a number of recommendations for the Cambodia Red Cross and related ministries/institutions to effectively implement in order to contribute to successfully realize the vision of the Cambodia Red Cross and to conform to the joint vision of the Royal Government in socio-economic development. Those recommendations include:

1. The Cambodia Red Cross must pay attention to prepare the detailed, clear and comprehensive action plan by having them divided into phases that are interconnected from one phase to another in order to ensure consistency and success in implementing the strategic framework 2011-2020 effectively. At the same time, Cambodia Red Cross must continue closer cooperation with related ministries/institutions, local authorities as well as development partners in preparing to prevent and take action more effectively to help the victims by following the 7 main principles of the world red cross red crescent movement.

2. The Cambodia Red Cross must continue further intensive effort in attracting funds from donors in order to ensure ownership in implementing its working mission better, deeper and more comprehensive with the objective to contribute to poverty reduction of our Cambodian people.

3. The Cambodia Red Cross must continue to implement its obligations more extensively and constantly in training about the methodology of preventing danger, awareness and pre-use of information system for the community, central and local government by paying special attention to the red cross youth and all related actors in order to make sure that they have sufficient ability and appropriate experiences to implement their duties at high level of success.

4. All related ministries/institutions as well as local authorities in all levels must pay further attention in cooperating and supporting with efficiency the operation of the implementation of the humanitarian mission of the Cambodian Red Cross such as disseminating information about traffic safety, HIV, basic primary support, community health service delivery and the saving of victims from various disasters.

5. The municipal, provincial, district and communal authorities must work closely and constantly with the people at their localities in order to be well aware about vulnerability, vulnerable areas and people in their responsible community, and must prepare clear data system in order to make it easy to prevent and take action against impacts and destruction of the people when the calamities happen. At the same time, they must closely cooperate with Cambodian Red Cross in order to get to know the real needs of the local people and take immediate and effective action for the vulnerable.

Once again, I would like to thank and appreciate Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, management and officials at all levels of the Cambodia Red Cross and related ministries/institutions, who have made greatest efforts in this humanitarian work for the victims in Cambodia. I would also like to convey my deepest thank to Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and international guests who have made utmost efforts in preparing this solemn meeting today.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to deeply thank Your Venerable Monks, compatriots, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and international guests and all development partners, who have contributed financial, spiritual and technical supports for the operation of this humanitarian acts of the Cambodia Red Cross in all circumstances.

At the end, I would like to wish Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and international guests, especially the management and officials of the Cambodia Red Cross the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength.

EndItem.

Speech at the Inauguration of Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System in Siem Reap City

Siem Reap Province, 22th April 2010

Honorable Chief of Monks, SarSanak Sam Vor Reak, Moul Ron, Venerable Monks,

Your Excellency PUTU KAMAYANA, Country Director, Asia Development Bank, Cambodia Resident Mission

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, National and International Guests,

Beloved Citizens!

Today it is my great pleasure to attend the official inauguration of the Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System in Siem Reap City, funded by the ADB loan, under the Great Mekong Sub-regional Tourism Development Project.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the RGC and Cambodian people, I would like to convey my profound gratitude to the leadership and all fund providers of the Asia Development Bank who have always been supporting the government and people of Cambodia constantly since 1993 for the rehabilitation and development of Cambodian economy and society through making improvement in infrastructures of all areas, particularly the public works and transportation sectors. The ADB had provided a loan with the amount of USD 10.08 million for the construction of this Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System in Siem Reap city and other loan schemes for the reconstruction of Cambodian railroads and the rehabilitation of the two-way railroads as well as reconnecting the old railroad which was disconnected during civil war that link Poipet to Sisophon.

Obviously, the construction of this sewage system and waste water treatment plant has multifaceted roles in promoting economic growth and social development and upgrading national reputation. For instance, the construction of this sewage system and waste water treatment plant not only help to improve environmental protection and scenery that can attract investments and tourists in all sectors, but it also raises the welfare of the people, animals and plants and reduce city flood because Siem Reap province is the center for cultural tourism and temples which are the priceless world heritages of Cambodia, situated in mountainous and rain forest area with high level of rainfall that flows into Siem Reap city before continuing into Tonle Sap which is the national fish source that has been providing food for nutrition for the whole Cambodian people. Furthermore, it also help supply water for irrigating the agricultural land because the poisonous and smelly waste water that has been discharged into the reservoir of treatment plant are to be processed step-by-step into useable water for watering rice and farm land, that is safe to the health and life of people, animals and plants. Taking this opportunity, I would like to encourage that the treated water be used for farming, rather than drain it into Tonle Sap lake.

With reference to the important role of this Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System, this achievement will promote the effective role of Siem Reap province in attracting more and more national and international tourists from day to day. Now, it is necessary to provide better and more responsive services to the needs of the customers, including the development of drainage system to avoid flood in the city and disruption to the travelling of tourists and for timely farming of vegetable and fruits. Because, tourism is a mean for collecting national revenue and generating employment for the citizens, and it is harmless to the environment, in which the world is worried about due to climate change which caused severe natural disasters in a number of countries. At the same time, we are proudly enjoying peace, safety, security and social order on this land of unity, solidarity and cooperation with neighboring countries. Due to our tireless effort in building roads, bridges, rail ways, water ways, and air ways across the country and connecting with neighboring countries in the region and the world, the national and international investors, tourists had gradually increased. All these factors coupled with population growth, caused the fast expansion and construction of state owned buildings, private accommodation, hotels, all kinds of factories, enterprises, that are required to have insurance conforming to the international standard in order to divert waste water from those buildings through the construction of this Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System.

It is difficult to construct this infrastructure, but the management of this achievement to be highly effective in both technical and administrative issues is even more difficult, requiring high responsibility for the sustainable interest of the whole nation; and I would like the Ministry of Public Work and Transports, who is the implementing agency in constructing this Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System, to be in charge of this project with and effective, transparent and highly responsible management through the regime of using Revenue to Support Expenditure, that is to ensure good governance and accountability on the technical, administrative and business aspects of this infrastructure.

I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate and fully support the cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Public Work and Transports in jointly constructing this infrastructure with mixed roles and functions; and I would like to encourage and urge the Ministry of Public Work and Transports to continue close cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and the Ministry of Environment in effectively utilizing this Waste Water Treatment Plant for agriculture sector with higher productivity and for sustaining the environmental protection and welfare of the people, animals and plants.

The construction of this Waste Water Treatment is aimed at maintaining the welfare of the people, animals and plants, which is the unavoidable obligation that must go along with the renovation and development of other sectors throughout the country, especially in the provinces, according to the efforts made by the Royal Government under the collaboration and support from development partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as well as the active participation and efforts made by all related ministries/institutions, local authorities in all levels and workers, employees all over the country in restoring and rebuilding various physical infrastructures to make sure that the whole nation is politically stable, cohesive and peaceful and reform-oriented in all sectors in order to strengthen good governance to achieve economic growth and socio-economic development, especially the promotion of mixed transportation system in potential areas in Siem Reap, in which the Ministry of Public Work and Transports has been rebuilding, renovating and maintaining the road network connecting from all parts of the country, in particular, connecting to Siem Reap province such as: National Road No.5, No.6, No.67, No.68, No.62 and the Provincial Roads, aiming to promote the tourism supported activities, trade and create favorable environment for the industry, agriculture, education, health and push for employment growth in order to increase income to enhance the living standard of the people and national budget, aiming at achieving fast poverty reduction of the people.

In order to achieve this goal and for the sake of a bright future of Cambodia, I would like to convey my message to all institutions of the Royal Government, local authorities and all people to work more intensively and increase closer and more active cooperation with each other with transparency and high efficiency in order to improve the transport physical infrastructure together with the process of Waste Water Treatment Plant with the objective to build confidence among the customers, national and international investors and development partners on our commitment to national development and rehabilitation.

I would like to appreciate the efforts made by all related ministries/institutions, all levels of local authorities, who have cooperated in boosting the construction of Waste Water Treatment Plant in Siem Reap province successfully and I would like to congratulate the China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (CATIC) and Technical Advisor Nippon Jogesuido Sekkei Co., Ltd (NJS) and SAWAC Cambodia, that have tried to implement the construction of this Waste Water Treatment Plant project with high technology and quality according to the scheduled timeframe.

Before ending, I would like to recall once again to you all to take extra care while travelling because trips to various resorts are crowded. Therefore, if we are not careful enough there will be traffic accidents that can cause death, injury, and disability that are the root of poverty and miserly in families as well as in the society. Thus, I would like all people, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, especially students who are youth to pursue the next generation of leadership, to know how to protect your lives by always wearing helmets while riding motorcycles, if you happen to drive it should not exceed 90 Km/hr outside the city center and should not exceed 40 Km/hr in the down town and must wear seat belt at all times while being in the car and you must not drink while driving.

At the end, I would like to wish the Honorable Chief of Monk in Siem Reap, Venerable Monks, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, National, International Distinguished Guests and all Compatriots the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength. May I now declare the Official Inauguration of Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewage System in Siem Reap!

Speech at the Inauguration of a New Building Center of the Secretariat of National Anti-Terrorism Committee

Phnom Penh, 21 April 2010

Your Venerable Monks
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

Today it is my great pleasure to attend inaugurating ceremony of a new building center of the Secretariat of National Anti-Terrorism Committee. The ceremony takes place right after the people nationwide had delightedly celebrated the recent traditional Happy Khmer New Year, Year of the Tiger, Buddhism Era 2554, which was on the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th April 2010.

This ceremony is another new occasion for me to visit and talk with officials and armed forces of the Secretariat of National Anti-Terrorism Committee who have made many successes and achievements so far, also we will observe together new development of situation to which we must pay great attention and be prepared for in order to fight against, prevent and combat terrorism threat.

Indeed, this new achievement stemmed from effort of all of us, especially the leadership and officials of the secretariat of National Committee for Anti-terrorism, to expand center and to modernize of facility and materials for increased effectiveness and productivity of daily operations. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my high appreciation for success and result that the secretariat of National Committee for Anti-terrorism has hard attained thus far by scarifying physical and moral force for the cause of overcoming all kinds of obstacles with sense of loving the nation and consciousness of determination to protect national security, making contribution to building full peace, stability, safety and social order for society and helping make and maintain achievements which is high interest of the nation.

Undeniably, these successes and achievements are clear evidence reflecting sharp determination of the leadership, officials and armed forces of the secretariat of National Committee for Anti-terrorism in contribution to implementation of national development policies that lead to materialize spirit of Rectangular Strategy Phase II i.e. growth, employment, equity and efficiency.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the government I would like to highly value endeavor of the secretariat of National Committee for Anti-terrorism to ensure engagement for this task and to build institutional capacity which allow this institution to make remarkable progress.

Obviously, witnessing human resource in June 2006, this agency had only 10 staff; however, at the present it has 504 staff in total comprising of military officers, police officers, non-commissioned military and police officers, soldiers, policemen, and has succeeded in building institutional capacity and developing equipments base for active and effective anti-terrorism. For that, National Police Force, Military Police, bodyguard unit, military units and a number of civil institutions such as Ministry of Economy and Finance, National Bank of Cambodia, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, General Department of Customs and Excise, General Department of Cam-control, international sea ports and international airports are always supporting and promoting security and tirelessly contributing to capacity building through training and human resource development, exchange of experience, information collection and analysis for combating all kinds of terrorism at national, regional and world level.

At the same time, I would like to admire all media networks for disseminating and educating people to understand danger of terrorism activities and extremism and have them always stand with the government for the cause of fighting with dangerous enemies who are terrorists. Along with that, I would like to express my complement to our people for being committed to and bring our nation with full security, peace and without terrorism.

Moreover, I would like to compliment the cooperation among ASEAN countries and the region against terrorism. Those countries always consider Cambodia a partner county and offer both bilateral and multilateral support to the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee to strengthen effort against tourism activities.

In front of us, this new building will enhance work effectiveness and continuous progresses that the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee has to fulfill and be responsible. This achievement is a strong foundation for all works. In this spirit, I hope to see the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee improves its work and expands the capacity of the institution and cooperation in this courageous mission. The Committee has to work harder and maintain achievements, with high conscious and continuity for the benefit of organization and strengthen effectiveness and capacity to fight against terrorism. Moreover, it has to response to international integration and cooperation for the cause of peace and national and social development both in present and future.

The Royal Government has always been determined in the strengthening of peace, stability and public order in the society. Keeping this in mind, we have strengthen and enhance full capacity of our armed forces and actively joint with international communities to prevent and crack down terrorist activities and sabotages both inside and outside country as well as take necessary measures to beef up effectiveness on prevention and cracking down all sort of crime activities that might create fear and cause instability to Cambodia society. At the same time, the Royal Government of Cambodia consider terrorist act as the cruelest crime that bring loss of lives for all races, ages and places. Disaster created by terrorism is a global challenge that requires joint effort from every country of world to be effective.

Despite geographical location, political, social and economic condition of Cambodia do not place Cambodia as a primary target for terrorism, Cambodia is necessary to build its capacity for bother preparing itself to ensure safety of Cambodian people and contribution in fighting against terrorism in order to eliminate terrorism activities that put people of all countries in horror. Therefore, it is important to continue improving capacity, skill and professionalism to carry our duties and strengthen cooperation, strengthen quality, ensure honesty to the nation, respecting the constitution and disciple and morality, which are necessary to fight, foil and prevent terrorism.

Terrorism could happen in all forms and constantly adapt to the situation that required detail studies and comprehension. For example, the 9/11 even is up to now, 3144 days. In this event, eleven people hijacked four US plans and unexpectedly used them for bombardment. Two plans were flown to hit the World Trade Center in New York, while the third plan hit the Pentagon in Washington and the fourth plan hit the ground. All people in those plans were killed. This event claimed 3000 lives, most of them were American and only 85 people were foreigners. Alqaida declared its responsibility for creating this scheme.

Two years after, on the 12 October 2002, two night clubs in Bali, Indonesia, were exploded and killed 202 people and injured 209 more. On the 5^th August 2003, a suicide car-bomb detonated the exterior of the Mariotte Hotel in Jakarta and killed 12 and injured 15 people. On the 9^th September 2004, a bomb was detonated outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and killed 11 people. Moreover, at Bali a bomb was detonated against killed 23 and injured 100 people on the 1^st October 2005.

Outside the region, many bombs have been exploded and killed many people. For example, on the 11^th March 2004 in Madrid, a bomb exploded in the subway and killed 192 people. On the 7^th July 2005 in London, three bombs in subway and four on buses were exploded and killed 50 and injured 700 people. Jordan, Egypt and Morocco had also been attacked by terrorists.

Through this, we must continue to seek deep understanding about the nature of terrorism, its intention, and its effect on the socio-economy. By building the capacity and getting a clear understanding of these issues can largely protect and prevent people from the threat pose by terrorism.

In this spirit, we must continue to implement of national anti-terrorism policy that rely on a people-wide network that is preventive, protective, and offensive through a firm and joint mechanism between the government and the people, government and the private sector in eliminating and eradicating the threat of terrorism on our nation. Along with that, our strategy has to be timely flexible because the threat of the terrorism always keeps changing. We have to bear in mind as always that leaving the terrorism to be uncontrollable can cause bad omen to the socio-economic development, especially tourism sector and foreign direct investment. In this context, we have to tirelessly continue our work ahead even though there is no sign of terrorism happening here, we have to strictly and actively fulfill our duties. Based on this foundation, I would like the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, National Police, Military Police, Armed Forces, State Agencies and all people to continue to jointly upgrade the spirit of high carefulness and must not be careless, however, we must remember that carelessness is underestimation, and underestimation is the way toward disaster.

At the same time, the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee must continue to be a coordinating center for all national and international agencies in all sorts of operation against terrorism and continue enhancing the activities and capacity for the secretariat and all national competent authorities in preventing and fighting against all kinds of terrorism acts.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to encourage the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee to prepare the anti-terrorism maneuver because it is an exercise for all competent authorities to nicely and effectively coordinate and cooperate with each others as witnessed so far. The preparation of the 2009 practice in Sihanouk province brought about 3 satisfactory tremendous results: (1) all competent authorities including police, military police, infantry armed forces, navy, various departments and units in the province have been effectively put under the leadership of a head of General Unit Commander, (2) departments and other units know how to cooperate in solving problems of terrorism with spirit of high responsibility and (3) departments and units are truly creative with high responsibility to fulfill the duties to mitigate the crisis caused by terrorism acts. For instance, we have noted that throughout the provinces there are 3 ambulances, but the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee has conducted the simulation of which 60 people were killed and injured in order to test the ability of the provincial authority in handling the situation. At the end, the provincial governor, provincial health department and the port authority have jointly solved the issue successfully by mobilizing other vehicles to help transport the victims and have them quickly sent to the hospitals escorted by police motorcycles. For this year, the Council of Ministers has instructed the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee to prepare Multi-Sector Anti-Terrorism Maneuver at the Phnom Penh International Airport in which I have instructed to prepare the test for the spy from all institutions to try to work together in order to jointly solve the crisis and based on this foundation, we will be able to further improve cooperation among those spies. We actually believe that there will be no terrorism act happening in Cambodia, but only such maneuver that can be used as the training platform for our armed forces. This maneuver can make our competent officers more skillful and responsive to overcome actual event successfully.

In this spirit, the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee must continue the work of collecting and sharing data, building capacity to fight, especially against terrorism acts, improving information technology, binding information data to become an information bank that can facilitate the analysis and research. Moreover, the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee must use small or big scale maneuvers as a way toward improving quality and efficiency for all related competent institutions for anti-terrorism works.

In this regard, I strongly believe that all related ministries/institutions; private sector and all people will contribute to share cooperation more actively for the cause of ensuring peace, stability, safety and social order for the society and the socio-economic progress of Cambodia. Through this, I would like to appeal to all relevant ministries/institutions, authorities, private sector and all people to continue supporting and contributing to the mission of the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee more intensively with high spirit of responsibility in order to better maintain more favorable climate for investment, tourism and business in Cambodia.

At the end, together with the official inauguration of the “New Building Center of the Secretariat of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee” today, I would like to wish Samdech Chief and Deputy Chief of Monks, Venerable Monks, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, National and International Guests the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Health ad Strength.

Addresses at the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam

1. Address at the 16^th ASEAN Summit (Plenary Session)

Topic: Implementation of the ASEAN Charter

and Roadmap for ASEAN Community

Hanoi, Vietnam, 8 April 2010

(17:45-18:45)

Excellency Chair of the Meeting!

Your Majesty the Sultan,

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

On behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, I would like to extend our congratulation to H.E. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on his assumption of the Chairmanship of this important 16^th ASEAN Summit and thank Your Excellency for the warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation.

May I share with you, Your Majesty, Excellencies, some of my views related to our agenda as follows:

1- Implementation of the ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for ASEAN Community

Moving towards the ASEAN Community clearly energizes us to work more closely and pro-actively in order to ensure ASEAN efficiency at this implementation stage. I highly appreciate the signing of the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanism and its attached Rules at this Summit. I am convinced that this Protocol is a stepping stone for ASEAN to build its capacity in order to settle differences and disputes in our region as provided for in the ASEAN Charter.

The 2^nd IAI Work Plan (2009-2015) is an important roadmap for narrowing development gaps within ASEAN and moving towards ASEAN Community by 2015. To realize this goal, I would like to propose that, five years from now, the ASEAN-6 should continue and step up efforts to support CLMV countries under the 2^nd IAI Work Plan in a coordinated and proactive manner. Cambodia has proposed ten priority areas in IAI Work Plan II. At the same time, I would like to propose that the scope of the 2^nd IAI Work Plan should focus on both soft infrastructure and physical infrastructure, which will bring direct benefit to the effort of narrowing development gap. Thus, we have to prepare two “baskets of priority activities”. The first basket consists of those to be implemented by ASEAN’s resources. The second is the list of priority projects to be shared financial contribution from development partners, especially the plus three countries, as development gap within ASEAN is the key challenge for East Asia integration where ASEAN is the centrality and the plus three countries are leading members. Taking this opportunity, I would like to push ASEAN Secretariat for immediate organization of the 3^rd IAI forum in Jakarta in order to mobilize support and resources from ASEAN Partners.

2- ASEAN Connectivity

ASEAN Connectivity is the heart for ASEAN to become the centrality of the regional affairs and to leverage its influence in international arena. The past study shows that there is still 1,093 km of missing links in the CLMV countries. The completion of physical infrastructure, such as road, rail, air and sea links within ASEAN region which runs through Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, is a necessity as the assessment on this connectivity illustrated that it would bring benefits to all member states of ASEAN in boosting and facilitating trade, investment, tourism, education, transportation and logistic services, which are the pre-requisites for development.

In the context of ASEAN connectivity, Malaysia has already provided Cambodia with used rails for the missing link of 48 km (Poipet-Sisophon). Currently, through the continued rehabilitation and improvement of this railway, we see the need to remove some more unusable rails. In this regard, I would like to request Malaysia for its kind consideration to provide another 240,000 m of rail (120 km for each line) for replacing the old ones that are unusable from Sisophon to Phnom Penh. The assistance will be a great contribution to the achievement of Singapore-Kunming Raillink. Taking this opportunity, I would also like to propose other ASEAN members to look into a possibility to participate in the construction of the missing railway section of about 257 km, linking Cambodia to Vietnam, which would costs about 600 million US dollars. Indeed, this section is vital for realization of Singapore-Kunming Raillink and it will directly contribute to sustainable growth and prosperity of the region.

I very much appreciate the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity in cooperation with ADB and ERIA in developing an ASEAN Master Plan on Regional Connectivity, a Plan that can ensure synergy among existing initiatives, with innovative financing mechanism to mobilize funds in addition to the current available resources.

Explicitly, the success of the ASEAN connectivity will largely subject to adequate funding for each concrete project. In this sense, I am encouraged by the progress made under the ASEAN Infrastructure Financing Mechanism (AIFM). Yet, once again, I would like to seek your kind attention on the establishment of an ASEAN Infrastructure Fund which can bring the benefits to all members including the less-developed ASEAN members. This will ensure a full success of the ASEAN Connectivity initiative.

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2. Address at the 16^th ASEAN Summit (Working Dinner)

Topic: Exchange of Views on Regional and International Issues

Hanoi, Vietnam, 8 April 2010

(19:30-21:30)

Excellency Chair of the Meeting!

Your Majesty the Sultan,

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

First of all, I would like to welcome the finalization of the amendment to the Protocol of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) to allow European Union to be able to become a member of TAC. I believe that the EU’s accession to the TAC, following the accession of the United States last year, would be a great contribution to security, peace and stability in South East Asia.

I would like also to highly appreciate and encourage Myanmar’s efforts in the preparation for a credible, fair and transparent general election.

Cambodia strongly supports the early finalization of the Guidelines on the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the South China Sea of 2002 (DOC) in order to further promote mutual trust and confidence among the claimants in the South China Sea and to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Regarding the Middle East issue, Cambodia always supports the Palestinians’ struggle for their right of self-determination in establishing a Palestine State which exists in harmony with Israel. Cambodia does not want to see any violence between Israel and Palestine. Cambodia supports peaceful solution to the conflict in order to bring peace and stability in the region and the world, and welcomes the positive results of the recent meeting of the Middle East Quartet, which took place in Moscow.

Cambodia also welcomes the efforts made toward resuming the six-party talks on denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula which would strengthen peace and stability in the region.

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3. Address at the 16^th ASEAN Summit (Retreat)

Topics: Regional Architecture, Sustained Recovery and Development, Climate Change and Other Global Challenges

Hanoi, Vietnam, 9 April 2010

(09:00-11:30)

Excellency Chair of the Meeting!

Your Majesty the Sultan,

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

May I share with you, Your Majesty, Excellencies, some of my views related to our agenda as follows:

1- Regional Architecture

The multi-polar setting becomes a dominant trend in the current world. Over the past, ASEAN has clearly showed its ability to serve as an attractive centrality of many processes, both at regional and global level, for peace, security, stability and development. Nevertheless, the ASEAN's challenges in the new context are to maintain its role as a driving force and attractive centrality of regional processes, as well as to expand and strengthen its “leveraging” role in the global arena. The maintaining of this role is very crucial for ASEAN in setting its future regional architecture. The most important key in this is to strengthen its advantage and ability through successful efforts to narrow the development gap within ASEAN and to build a well connected ASEAN community.

In this sense, the enlargement of ASEAN connectivity into East Asia Region means not just a pre-requisite for the establishment of Free Trade Area and Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia, but also a foundation for an establishment of East Asia community in the long run in which ASEAN is the centrality. In this spirit, ASEAN should be cautious about regional integration initiatives raised by some partners which could damage the role of ASEAN centrality in regional affairs. As such, while we are discussing the approach toward the Comprehensive Economic Partnership establishment, ASEAN should focus on the implementation of the existing Free Trade Area agreements and narrowing development gap among countries within the region.

Moreover, ASEAN should take the current opportunity to contribute inputs to options of international financial system reform led by G20 countries as economic recovery and development are closely linked to this important reform. In this spirit, I am of the view that ASEAN Secretariat and Vietnam as the ASEAN Chair, should lobby the G20 Summit in the Republic of Korea in the near future to officially accept the ASEAN Chair as an official member of the G20 Summit.

In this regard, I would like to reiterate Cambodia’s support for the push for Doha development negotiation, in WTO framework, to be finished immediately and successfully.

2- Sustained Recovery and Development

Once again, I highly appreciate the recent ASEAN+3’s decision to launch the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) and increase the size of the SWAP arrangements from US$80 billion to US$120 billion. Actually, this self-help mechanism could protect the region in the context of current global financial crisis as well as financial crisis which may reoccur in the future. So we should finalize the remaining technical issues, so that this mechanism can be implemented at the soonest.

Although the global recovery remains fragile, we see that Asian economies recovered from the crisis before the other regions. Asia’s remarkable recovery explicitly reflects to some extent that currently the regional economy becomes less dependent on the United States and Europe. Medium-term challenge in Asia is, however, to promote domestic and regional sources of growth in order to play a more dynamic role. This requires stronger push and sooner completion of cooperation and regional economic integration process in accordance with initiatives and action plans that we have adopted.

3- Climate Change

This Summit is timely to provide further guidance to translate the Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment into action plan and concrete projects for implementation. In this regard, I highly appreciate the ASEAN Declaration on Joint Response to Climate Change. Cambodia has been committed to the implementation of the Copenhagen Accord. Cambodia is piloting a project in the framework of Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.

We must give high priority to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the process toward a climate-resilient ASEAN Community. I think that ASEAN should have one voice in encouraging the more developed countries to transfer low-carbon technologies to least developing countries, thus we can jointly mitigate greenhouse emission gas. Adaptation funding mechanism is even more important for least developing countries in addressing challenges resulted from the Climate Change. In this regard, ASEAN has to explore effective financing instruments and policies for climate resilience.

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Keynote Address at the Stocktaking Conference of the 2009-2010 Achievements in Agriculture

Keynote Address at the Stocktaking Conference of the 2009-2010 Achievements in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sectors and Direction Setting for 2010-2011

Royal University of Agriculture, April 6, 2010

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure today to be here in the closing of this “Stocktaking Conference of the 2009-2010 Achievements in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Direction Setting for 2010-2011”. Taking this opportunity, I would like to welcome Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen distinguished national and international guests and all the students in this event. This allows us to exchange ideas and experiences on current drawbacks and challenges and review the past performance so that we can identify new measures and action plans to match the objective of the agriculture sector and promote participation from related institutions/ministries, development partners and agencies, private sector, and the community to maximize efficiency and agriculture development. The work reviewed and implemented must be continued to be undertook consistently among all the ministries/institutions and all related parties to ensure development and prosperity for the society.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has indeed performed notably to take part in the socio-economic development effort. While countries across the globe were affected by high food prices from mid-2007 till early 2008, Cambodia was not an exception. Although this problem affected non-agricultural countries, but it is a new opportunity for agrarian countries like Cambodia.

With concerted effort and favorable condition, Cambodia’s agriculture sector has been continuously expanded and strengthened. Cambodia has been able to produce surplus rice for exports for years. Even in the face of damage from pesticide and natural catastrophes such as drought, flood, Ketsana hurricane, it still managed to overcome these problems. We could expand the cultivated areas by an average of 47,000 hectares per year from 2004 to 2008. The average rice yields reached 2.74 tons per hectare (both seasons) in 2008-2009. Along with this, MAFF has worked closely with related ministries/institutions to timely take preventive measures and successfully tackle bird flu outbreak with ownership and experiences of competent officials who have skillfully diagnosed H5N1 strain and other diseases. Along with this, the MAFF has supplied farmers with some handy experiences and orchestrated the movement of public assistance during urgent situations.

Based on this performance, I can say both quantitative and qualitative progress in the agriculture sector has improved farmers’ income and standard of living and ensured diversification of agriculture since we have favorable condition, advancement and dynamics of agriculture production, supporting measures including credit line, irrigation and agricultural techniques.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the management and officials of MAFF for their hard work and great responsibility even facing with resource shortages. Along with this, I would like to commend the related ministries/institutions, local authorities, development partners and agencies, national and international NGOs, private sector and the community for the cooperation and support provided to the formulation of action plans and implementation to increase efficiency and quality and accelerate progress in the agriculture sector. These efforts and contribution spirit are a big catalyst for realizing the vision of the agricultural sector.

In general, the work on improving the agriculture sector which is prioritized under all circumstances is done with firm commitment but the scope of these efforts cannot respond fully to the needs across the country. We must continue to work at full capacity as this sector requires rigorous participation from all parties, and I urge related ministries/institutions, development partners and agencies, community and private sector to continue to provide material, financial and technical support to restore and expand the physical infrastructure, develop institutional capacity and human resources, expand the scope of agriculture development for more timely and comprehensive response to the actual needs.

I am still optimistic that productivity improvement and diversification, as stipulated in the Rectangular Strategy will remain a priority principle for now and foreseeable future. In this spirit, I have always paid high attention to the agriculture development since it is a core mechanism for economic growth and improved living standard of some 80% of the total population. Taking this opportunity, I would like to share some humble ideas and recommendations to add more weight to the formulation of the 2010-2011 action plan so that major objectives including productivity improvement and diversification of rice production, cash crops and industrial crops, fisheries products, animals and agro-industry will be fulfilled. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries must:

1. continue to improve productivity, agricultural diversification and agricultural exports by implementing integrated agricultural systems through soil improvement based on the management of arable land, seed selection, encouragement of the use of machineries, and expansion of extension services such as dissemination of agricultural techniques and agriculture cooperatives, agricultural marketing and rural credit through organizing rural financial system and promote development of agro-industry and food processing to increase value-added and income to farmers and export. Moreover, MAFF must continue to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the speed of implementing sectoral and sub-sectoral plan and programs in order to readjust the next year direction and update medium term strategic plan following the Agriculture Strategic Development Plan and Agriculture and Water Strategy. Moreover, MAFF has to speed up some necessary draft laws for the immediate needs of legal framework to support the implementation of agriculture strategic development plan and policy such as management safety of agricultural chemicals and materials, sanitary and phyto-sanitary and quality of products. In addition, MAFF has to promote a reform of agriculture community by transforming this local mechanism to be a capable production base, financially resourceful, and reliable to the market, especially through contract farming and encouragement participation from private sector following open market principle and development of agro-industry in processing, competition and export of agricultural products.

2. further promote livestock focusing on improved breed, feeds, up-to-date technology and development bio-gas plant for farmers for beef up production in both quantity and quality. Moreover, it should strengthen monitoring and prevent outbreak of communicable diseases from animal to animal, animal to human and human to animal as well as from a region to another. This can be done through vaccine and bio-safety campaign, strengthening village animal health officers and controlling moving of animal within and across the country. That can prevent outbreak of diseases that may affect the economy and public health. Moreover, MAFF must take oat in order to receive the legal status as justice police according to the penal code of the Kingdom of Cambodia in order to promote the capacity and facilitate the operation of law enforcement of the competent authorities at the local levels to be highly effective and efficient in observing, monitoring and taking action against the related crimes such as crimes on agricultural materials, sanitary and phyto-sanitary, which are significantly related to the food safety in agricultural production. Besides, MAFF must cooperate with the related institutions, especially the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Interior, Competent Authorities along the border pass to be well aware and be able to take action to prevent the illegal imported and exported agricultural products, design the strategy to boost the substitution production, especially fruits, birds, live pigs by inspiring the people to produce and change from the habit of waiting to buy to the habit of self-producing for regional supply.

3. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I have so far put out order and recommendations related to the issues of forestry such as recommendations during closing of the agriculture stock-taking conference on 9 April 2009, closing of the stock-taking workshop for military reform of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces of the Ministry of National Defense on 28 January 2010 and the inauguration of the headquarter of the intervention regiment No.3 in Peak Sbek, Chuam Khsan District, Preah Vihear Province on 6 February 2010, that all related ministries and institutions, especially the Forest Administration must try their best to disseminate and constantly and strictly implement those orders and recommendations with more effective, meaning that it is not just to wave off the smoke but also completely extinguish the fire, which is the main cause, and constantly report on this case. At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to further stress that all ministries and institutions, all kinds of armed forces and local authorities to continue implementing this campaign to be highly effective, eliminate the culture of intervention for all those issues and follow the legal procedure. Along with that, the Forestry Administration and related ministries and institutions must participate in implementing the National Forestry Day, organized according to the international practice by having to prepare the roadmap to strengthen the implementation a mechanism to prevent further deforestation and degrading of Cambodian National Forest, the management and use of state-owned forest land nationwide in order to contribute to solving the problem of climate change and global warming, including the reforestation, forest rehabilitation, and the protection and preservation of the national forest with sustainability and increase the forest cover of 60% of the national land surface according to the millennium development goal 2015. The Forestry Administration must continue to further push and deepen the research studies and scientific development of forestry-wildlife, that is timely to the national and international situation such as research studies on all kinds of plants, wildlife, biodiversity and all kinds of forestry products including the case of Mrah Prov Phnom oil, Romeat vine etc and must study in details about the roles and functions of the forest ecosystem in relation with the issue of climate change, water, land and living condition of the people living near the forest areas in order to enhance the awareness and encourage the people to love and pay attention to protect, maintain and use the forest resources with sustainability and high efficiency in the kingdom of Cambodia. In fact, the preservation of the environment is a significant value because it will provide lots of interest in the present and for the future generation.

4. Adding on my recommendations that I have already put forward during the occasion of the National Fishery Day, I would like MAFF to pay attention to promote the work of all kinds of aquatic products, especially the regions that are lack of fishes by encouraging and promoting the small scale fish rearing as a family business as well as creating the fish breeding farms in order to ensure the domestic needs. Along with this, the MAF must continue paying high attention to the creation of crab banks in order to increase quantity and richness of all kinds of crabs as well as freeing the small fish at the fishing lots communities...etc; and must set up important shelters for national fishes and strengthen the capacity of fishing community along the beaches, fresh water in order to contribute to the management of fisheries resources with sustainability. Along with that, MAFF, local authorities and all levels of competent authorities must cooperate to study and evaluate comprehensively the allocation of land concession or other development land that have impact on the inundated forest, mangrove forest, flora and sea grass, which are the main shelter of aquatic life, especially to prevent the deforestation of inundated forest, contraction of water reservoir for dry season farming in the provinces along the Tonle Sap lake and fisheries crime by strictly strengthening the monitoring activities and continue to enforce the legal procedure. As for the water basin that has been illegally built within the fishing demarcation, it must be urgently dismantled. The 16 Water Basins in Kampong Thom Province were already destroyed by the Royal Government of Cambodia. To continue, MAFF must study about technical issues of other remaining reservoir in order to clearly define the fixes for the reservoir that serving the real interest of the farmer community and need to keep and inspect all reservoirs that cannot be fixed must completely destroyed. The study should be done through integration approach by being able to coordinate the public investment program and private investment in a form of BOT. At the same time, the provincial authority must prevent and stop the building of Water reservoir and illegal lake, river, canal, beach and sea filling; and the fisheries administration must take level measures according to the law on fishery against people who are involve in those illegal acts.

5. Continue to take back economic land concession, where concessionaire has not followed the contracts and illegally encroached forest land for rehabilitation and development of Cambodia forest. Moreover, MAFF must enhance its capacity and means both in term of human resources, equipment and budget to effectively and efficiently fulfill its mission.

In this regards, the Royal Government has a strong believe that excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the officers of the MAFF at all hierarchy, are going to work hard, strict and with high attention. So, the new achievements will contribute to enhance honor, integrity and dignity of our country both in the region and the world.

Once again, I would like to express compliment and appreciation on the leadership and officers of MAFF for their active efforts and high responsible to attain many achievements in agriculture, forestry and fishery sector and continue this tradition to overcome obstacles and to reach above mentioned vision. At the same time, I would like to appeal to relevant ministries/institutions, local authority, armed forces, development partners and agencies, national and international organization and private sector continue to support the farmers in all forms and development work of agriculture making constant progress and proud. The development of agriculture sector and improvement livelihood of people are the objectives of the government and the whole society.

Finally, with declaration to close the Stocktaking Conference of the 2009-2010 Achievements in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sectors and Direction Setting for 2010-2011 and in the occasion of Khmer Traditional New Year, Year of Tiger, Buddhist Era 2554 coming next week, I wish your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen four blessing of Buddha: longevity, wealthy, happiness and strength.