CMAA secretary-general Ly Panharith and GICHD ambassador and director Stefano Toscano signed a memorandum of understanding on residual contamination management in Cambodia on March 5 in Geneva, Switzerland. CMAA
The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on residual contamination management in Cambodia.
Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the CMAA and president of the 2024 Ottawa Convention’s fifth review conference (5RC), presided over the March 5 signing ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.
The MoU was signed by CMAA secretary-general Ly Panharith and GICHD ambassador and director Stefano Toscano.
According to the CMAA, the agreement will strengthen joint efforts to improve the Kingdom’s capacity to sustainably manage the long-term effects of explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Thuch expressed his belief that together, the CMAA and GICHD will make significant strides towards freeing Cambodia from the threat of landmines and ERWs, making all communities safer and more prosperous.
“This demonstrates our commitment to working towards a future where the world is free of landmines,” he said.
Between 1992 and 2023, under then-Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia cleared 3,024sq km of mines and ERWs, including cluster munitions.
The country still has 533sq km of minefields, as well as 1,321sq km of ERWs, to clear.
“With the unwavering commitment of [incumbent] Prime Minister Hun Manet … we are confident of achieving our goal of a mine-free Cambodia 2025, and of reducing the risk of ERWs to a minimum,” explained Thuch.
On the same day, he also held a bilateral meeting with David Anitok, special envoy of the president of the Marshall Islands in Geneva.
During the meeting, Thuch requested that the Marshall Islands consider joining the Ottawa Convention, and invited a delegation from the island nation to attend the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World, the 5RC to be hosted by Cambodia in November.
Anitok explained that the Marshall Islands are well aware of the impact of war, as the archipelago was once used as a testing ground for nuclear weapons.
He added that his nation aims to improve the well-being of its people, in line with the humanitarian aspects of the Ottawa mine ban treaty.
Anitok said he would share Thuch’s request with his president, who will review and consider both the membership request and the invitation to the 5RC, scheduled for November 25-29.
The Marshall Islands is one of 33 countries which Cambodia – the 2024 chair of the Ottawa Convention – has targeted as potential signatories to the agreement.
