Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina has thanked the government of the former Soviet Union (USSR), now Russia, for their historic assistance to Cambodia, especially in the agriculture sector. 

Tina’s comment came as he attended a November 25 religious ceremony to remember eight Russian and one Cambodian agriculture specialists who were killed in Kampong Cham in 1983.

The nine were killed in an ambush by Khmer Rouge soldiers August 23, 1983 while en route to a research project outside Kampong Cham town. The names of the specialists were Tikmenov, Lysenko, Gribov, Akhundov, Chernov, Fayziev, Nazarov, Saatov and Cambodian So Sokheang, according to the Russian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

“In the agriculture sector, the USSR provided food and materials for agricultural cultivation, sending many agriculture experts to help train Cambodia agriculture officials and students,” said Tina. 

The minister said that from 1984 to 1989, the Institute of Agricultural Technique (currently Royal University of Agriculture) was fully supported, both financially and in materials, by the USSR government, in order to train human resources. The Soviet Union dispatched 56 professors to work at the institute.

“Beyond that, many of our agriculture officials and students were given the opportunity to pursue their study in the USSR. Many of them are still actively contributing to the development of agriculture in Cambodia. The government of Russia continues to support Cambodia, and enjoys excellent cooperation with the Cambodian government in many sectors, including agriculture,” he added.

“Although the nine specialists lost their lives 40 years ago, their contribution and their heroism will always stay in our hearts. Today’s gathering is a testament that will remember them, and of our eternal gratitude,” he continued.

Russian ambassador to Cambodia Anatoly Borovik, who also attended the event, said that since Cambodia and Russia first forged diplomatic relations on May 13, 1956, Russia has been committed to preserving its loyal friendship with Cambodia.

“The history of our interaction is a model of fruitful cooperation, with many major achievements, including the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, and the dispatch of Russian experts to Cambodia,” he said. 

Borovik described the Kingdom as one of the fastest moving economies in Southeast Asia, and noted that Russia saw potential to strengthen and expand bilateral ties in areas such as trade and investment, as well as in technology partnerships.