Cambodia’s Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, on Tuesday praised Switzerland’s long-standing partnership in humanitarian mine clearance and appealed for its sustained support as the nation strives to achieve a mine-free status.
The call for continued assistance came during a meeting between H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch and Ms. Zoë Poznicek, Programme Officer for Humanitarian Mine Action at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation in the critical mine action sector.
Speaking for the Royal Government of Cambodia, H.E. Senior Minister underscored the robust diplomatic ties and solid cooperation, acknowledging the substantial contribution of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to Cambodia’s overall development.
In the context of demining, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, acting as a representative of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, conveyed profound appreciation for Switzerland’s consistent assistance. He described the nation’s contribution to mine clearance as invaluable, emphasising that international cooperation is vital for addressing humanitarian crises and fostering lasting peace.
Cambodia views Switzerland as a key partner and expressed its hope that this support would continue until Cambodia realizes its national goal of being entirely free of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
During the high-level discussion, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch also provided Ms. Poznicek with an update on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border. He highlighted the distress faced by Cambodian civilians who were compelled to evacuate to safety zones due to military attacks by Thai forces, noting the extensive damage inflicted on public infrastructure during the conflict.
The Senior Minister reiterated Cambodia’s firm commitment to resolving all border-related disputes through peaceful and diplomatic channels, in strict adherence to international law and the principles of regional peace and stability.
