Phnom Penh – Cambodia on Tuesday, commemorated the 10-year achievements of peacekeeper deployment in war-torn countries under the framework of the UN.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, said at the event in Phnom Penh, that government would continue its contributions for the sake of world peace.
The event was attended by 700 people, who are government officials, UN representatives, diplomatic corps, foreign military attaches to Cambodia and armed forces.
Sen said that since 2006, 3,557 Cambodian troops, including 118 females, have joined the UN peacekeeping missions in eight countries including Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Syria and Cyprus.
The prime minister said currently, 888 of the troops remain on their duties in Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, Mali and Central African Republic.
“It is the pride for Cambodia that its flag has been hoisted along with flags of other countries that have contributed their troops for the UN peacekeeping missions.
“We will continue joining peacekeeping operations in countries when there are requests from the UN,’’ he said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
Sen said that over the past decade, four Cambodian troops were killed and several others wounded during their missions.
Prak Sokhonn, Chairman of the National Coordination Committee of UN Peacekeeping Operation, said Cambodian peacekeepers have worked on landmine clearance, security and public order maintaining, health care, road, bridge and airport construction and military observation.
He said Cambodia was the third highest country in ASEAN with the deployment of troops abroad under the framework of the United Nations.
Military attaches of donor countries including the United States, China, India, Japan, France and Australia were invited to deliver speeches at the event.
Li Ningya, Military attache of the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia, hailed Cambodia for its active participation in the UN peacekeeping operation.
He said Cambodia is the biggest troop contributor among eight contributing countries in Southeast Asia and the 24th among 122 contributing countries all over the world.
Ningya said China has supported Cambodian peacekeepers for several years through providing training courses and materials.(Xinhua/NAN)