Bomb clearing aids Cambodia's and Vietnam's friendship

Bomb clearing aids nations' friendship

HA NOI — The Viet Nam People's Army and the Royal Cambodian Army have strengthened their friendship and co-operation in clearing bombs, mines and explosives in the past years.

Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Thanh Cung, Deputy Minister of National Defence, made the statement while receiving Prak Sokhonn (pictured), Minister to Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, in Ha Noi yesterday.

According to the Deputy Minister, the US dropped more than 15 million tonnes of bombs and mines in Viet Nam during the war, of which about 800,000 tonnes are still unexploded.

Viet Nam needed US$10 billion to clear all the unexploded bombs and mines, he said.

Cung said that the country is conducting a survey and mapping project on bomb and mine-infested areas nationwide. It is expected to be completed in 2014, as well as various building strategies, policies and programmes to attract international support for surmounting the consequences of unexploded bombs and mines.

On the occasion, he thanked the Cambodian Government and people for their assistance in searching for and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during the war in Cambodia.

For his part, Minister Prak Sokhonn highlighted Cambodia 's bomb and mine clearance efforts and international co-operation on this issue.

He affirmed that the Cambodian government and people will continue helping Viet Nam search for and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese soldiers.

Earlier that same day, the Cambodian minister was welcomed by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who affirmed that Viet Nam, as a country suffering serious consequences of bombs and mines left from war, always supports and takes action in line with the humanitarian spirit of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Viet Nam is making efforts to address bomb and mine consequences and seeking more support from the international community for these efforts.

Minister Prak Sokhonn shared information about Cambodian's efforts in clearing bombs and mines and supporting victims of anti-personnel mines. He invited Viet Nam to attend the 11th Meeting of the Member States of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, to be held in Cambodia from November 28 to December 2.—VNS