INDEX

1. Cambodia Hosts Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise

2. U.S. Pleased with Cambodian Cooperation, Looks to Expand in Agriculture

3. U.S. Returns 7 Pieces of Khmer Artefacts

4. 2nd Anniversary of Preah Vihear Temple's Registration as World Heritage Site

5. Cambodia to Take Part in UN Operation in Lebanon

6. 60 th Anniversary of Cambodia- U.S. Diplomatic Relations

7. Donors Welcome Completion of Duch's Trial

8. Australia Welcomes Duch's Trial

9. Investment in Cambodia in First Semester 2010

10. Government's Rice Strategy to Make Cambodia Large Rice Exporter

11. Cambodia to Export 2.000 Tonnes of Rice to France

12. Cambodia Exports Rice to Europe

13. Korean Firm to Buy 40,000 Tonnes of Cambodian Corn

14. Announcement

 

 

Cambodia's PM Samdech Hun Sen shaking hands with U.S. President Barack Obama during the 1 st ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting in Singapore on 15 November 2009

 

Cambodia Hosts Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen (C) and United Nations Resident Coordinator Douglas Broderick (L) look a photo exhibition during the multi-national exercise “Angkor sentinel 2010” at Kampong Speu province, on 17 July 2010. (Photo courtesy: AFP)

Cambodia hosted the first large-scale multinational peacekeeping exercise, named “ Angkor Sentinel 2010” from 12 to 30 July 2010.

"Field Training Exercise", the second phase of " Angkor Sentinel 2010", was officially kicked off on 17 July at the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in Kompong Speu province, about 50 km from Phnom Penh.

"Field Training Exercise" was the second of two forms of "Angkor Sentinel 2010". The first part "Command Post Exercise" was launched on 12 July in Phnom Penh under the presidency of Gen. Moeung Samphan, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense, and Mrs. Carol A. Rodley, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia.

The field training exercise consists of lane training in checkpoint operations, patrolling, securing a distribution site, convoy operations, conducting a cordon and search, and securing disarmament area.

The “Angkor Sentinel 2010”, co-organized by the Kingdom of Cambodia and the United States, is part of the 2010 Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPIO), a UN-US peacekeeping-training program for strengthening peace and security.

The military exercise is conducted with the participation of around 703 forces from 24 countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, England, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Tonga, the United States and Vietnam, and other two international organizations: the United Nations and the International Red Cross, reported the Cambodian news agency AKP on 19 July.

Addressing the opening ceremony of "Command Po st Exercise " , US Ambassador Carol Rodley said Washington remained committed to enhancing its military relationship with Cambodia. She added that Angkor Sentinel provided a “unique opportunity” to deepen the two countries' friendship. The exercise would allow Cambodia's peacekeepers to expand beyond their current demining and protection duties and evolve into a full-service unit that can be deployed anywhere in the world, she added.

Speaking at the opening of "Field Training Exercise", Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, said he "feels great pride for his country has the ability to hold such size and important peacekeeping exercise" , adding that “Angkor Sentinel 2010” was the participation of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in the UN's peacekeeping mission, as well as the opening of a new era for integrating Cambodia into the region and the world.

“It is necessary for all of us to get ready for preventing the menace of negative actions leading to the instability and the insecurity in the nations and the world,” he said.

“Angkor Sentinel 2010” focuses on developing participating nations' contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping efforts. The training emphasizes multinational peacekeeping challenges such as insurgency, terrorism, crime and ethnic conflict. The exercise strengthens readiness and interoperability for each nation to succeed in overcoming these challenges.

The training exercise is the latest in a continuing series of regional GPOI exercises designed to promote peacekeeping capabilities within Cambodia and among regional partners. It also supports the institutional reform of the RCAF and promotes Cambodia's participation in multilateral and regional events.

 

 

U.S. Pleased with Cambodian Cooperation, Looks to Expand in Agriculture

The United States is pleased with Cambodian cooperation and is looking to expand cooperation with Cambodia in the field of agriculture, Cambodian government spokesman said on 17 July 2010.

The spokesman told reporters after the meeting between Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and visiting U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns, that Burns said "United States of America is pleased with Cambodian cooperation and hopes the two countries will enhance their cooperation in other sectors, mainly in the field of agriculture."

Samdech Hun Sen said that "Cambodia is pleased with U.S. cooperation through assistance to fight terrorism as well as for the development of Cambodian human resources". T he two countries have more potential that can be expanded for more cooperation in the future, he added.

William J. Burns visited Cambodia on 17-18 July 2010.

 

 

U.S. Returns 7 Pieces of Khmer Artefacts

 

Angkorean artefacts are displayed during a ceremony at the Cambodian National Museum in Phnom Penh, 18 July 2010 ( REUTERS Photo/Chor Sokunthea)

The U.S. government handed over on 18 July 2010 seven pieces of the Khmer antiquities to the Cambodia national museum to further strengthen the relations between the two countries amid commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relation.

U.S. Undersecretary William Burns said at the handover ceremony that "our efforts to return these artifacts exemplify the respect we have for Cambodian historical patrimony and culture."

The returned Khmer antiquities--which made of sandstone and metal bronze dated back in 10th and 12th century of the Angkor period--are temple decorative element, head of male divinity, horse, and torso of a male divinity.

Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Him Chhem said that up to now Cambodia has received 27 pieces of artifacts in total from the United States.

 

 

2 nd Anniversary of Preah Vihear Temple's Registration as World Heritage Site

Cambodian dancers perform during a celebration to mark the 2 nd Anniversary of the naming of Cambodia's famed Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

The Kingdom of Cambodia marked on 7 July at Preah Vihear Temple, Preah Vihear province, the 2 nd anniversary of the Khmer ancient temple's listing as a World Heritage Site.

Some 2,000 officials, soldiers and local villagers turned out at Preah Vihear Temple to attend the celebration.

During the ceremony, Buddhist monks chanted blessings while performers beat traditional Khmer drums representing the warrior ethic of the Angkorian empire.

Preah Vihear Temple was officially inscribed as a World Heritage Site on July 7 by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in its 32 nd session in Quebec, Canada.

Preah Vihear Temple is the 4 th Cambodian heritage being registered on the list. The Historic Site of Angkor was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992, while Preah Reach Troap Dance (Royal Ballet) and Lakhon Sbek Thom (big shadow puppet) were proclaimed masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity respectively in 2003 and 2005.

Located on the Cambodian-Thai border, Preah Vihear Temple was built between 9 th and 12 th century when Khmer Empire dominated the region. In June 1962, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that Preah Vihear Temple was located inside Cambodia's border.

 

 

Cambodia to Take Part in UN Operation in Lebanon

Prak Sokhon, Secretary of State at the Office of the Council of Ministers and also Chairman of the National Committee in charge of Sending Cambodian Troops for U.N. Peace Keeping Operation, told reporters on 17 July 2010 that 150 military engineers along with another 50 de-miners would leave for Lebanon in October this year, as part of the U.N. request, to assist U.N. operation in Lebanon.

"They will help Lebanese to build bridges, roads and buildings, " Prak Sokhon said on the same day as Cambodia hosted a large- scale peacekeeping drill with participation of more than 700 military personnel from 24 countries.

Cambodia hassent 557 peacekeeping troops in total since 2006 to clear mines in three war-torn African nations, namely Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic. The Cambodian military personnel and de-miners, who were dispatched to fulfill mission under the U. N. umbrella in the three African nations, have been rotated every year.

 

 

60 th Anniversary of Cambodia- U.S. Diplomatic Relations

The Royal Government of Cambodia and the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh have commemorated the 60 th anniversary of Cambodian-U.S. diplomatic relations with a series of cultural and academic events in Phnom Penh and Battambang province. 

The activities, which consisted concerts, dances, film screening, and academic symposium and ran 18-24 July 2010, are designed to highlight the shared history between the Kingdom of Cambodia the United States and the many ways in which the two countries are working together.

 

 

Donors Welcome Completion of Duch's Trial

France and Japan, the Co-Chairs of Friends of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), have welcomed the completion of Duch's trial, reported the Cambodian news agency AKP on 27 July 2010.

“The donors welcome the completion of the trial in the Trial Chamber for case 001, Monday 26 th of July, against Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, former director of the detention center S21 in Phnom Penh for crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, homicide and torture,” said the Co-Chairs of Friends in a statement dated July 26 on behalf of the donors to the ECCC.

The donors recognize the commitment of the national and international judges as well as all those working for the ECCC and their independent and comprehensive work, in order to uphold high standards of law and due process, it said.

More than 30 years after the atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge regime, this judgment gives hope that the ECCC will ultimately fulfill its promise as a vehicle for justice and national reconciliation for all Cambodians, said the statement, stressing that the donors reaffirm their confidence in and support for the ECCC in delivering justice to the Cambodian people and in helping Cambodia strengthen further its efforts for the rule of law.”

 

 

Australia Welcomes Duch's Trial

“Australia welcomes the judgement handed down today, 26 July, in the case of Kaing Guek Eav (known as Duch), the former head of the infamous Tuol Sleng security centre,” said a release issued on 26 July 2010 by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“He was found guilty in the Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) of crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as premeditated murder and torture under the 1956 Cambodian Penal Code,” said the release.

“Today's judgement and the preceding trial offers some measure of justice to those who suffered as a result of the crimes perpetrated at the Tuol Sleng security centre, and for all who experienced the brutality of the Khmer Rouge,” continued the release.

“Australia has contributed over $14 million towards the work of the ECCC, and has supported the trial of Khmer Rouge leaders since Cambodia sought UN assistance in 1997 to establish a tribunal to prosecute the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge.”

 

 

Investment in Cambodia in First Semester 2010

In the first six months of this year, the total investment value in Cambodia reached over US$1,078 million, a Cambodian Development Council's report said.

The foreign direct investment in Cambodia amounted to US$917.4 million, while the local investment totaled some US$161.4 million, said the Cambodian news agency AKP on 27 July 2919.

China is the biggest investor in the Kingdom in the first semester of 2010 with US$529.9 million followed by Malaysia (US$109.9 million), Vietnam (US$83.4 million), Australia (US$49.7 million), Taiwan (US$41.5 million) and S. Korea (US$35.3 million).

Besides, the U.S., Denmark, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand have been also investing in Cambodia.

It is noted that for the first six months of 2009, the total investment value in Cambodia amounted to more than US$1,216 million.

 

 

 

Government's Rice Strategy to Make Cambodia Large Rice Exporter

Cambodia plans to increase rice exports through increased productivity and improved infrastructure, according to a draft policy document approved during a plenary session of the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh on 25 July, reported The Phnom Penh Post on 28 July 2010.

Improvements to roads, irrigation systems and the provision of technical and financial aid were earmarked for development, as part of a rice policy update.

A draft of the rice strategy was drawn up by the National Supreme Economic Council following April's Government-Private Sector Forum, in which Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen highlighted the importance of rice in the future of the Kingdom. The rice strategy is aimed at making Cambodia a large net rice exporter in the future.

Rural Development Bank governor Sun Kunthor, who is also deputy chairman of the National Supreme Economic Council, said the government had already doubled his bank's capital to US$36 million for 2010, enabling increased loans to farmers and rice processors to produce better-quality rice in response to international demand.

“We hope Cambodia will have a surplus totalling millions of tonnes of rice for export by 2015,” he said.

Cambodia aims to produce as much as 15 million tonnes of paddy by 2015, which would result in a projected surplus of 8 million tonnes for export. With 2.6 million hectares currently under rice cultivation, the Kingdom's farmers harvested 7.3 million tonnes of paddy in 2009, resulting in a 3.1 million tonne surplus.

The Ministry of Agriculture reported in April that rice farmers had yielded an average of 2.83 tonnes of paddy per hectare this season, an increase on 2.74 tonnes per hectare in the 2008 to 2009 season.

 

 

 

Cambodia to Export 2.000 Tonnes of Rice to France

Green Trade Company has announced an agreement to export 2,000 tonnes of rice worth more than US$1.6 million to France in August, reported The Phnom Penh Post on 5 July 2010.

“We hope the company will be able to find more buyers in the coming months because we are trying to improve production to reach the high standards demanded by the international market,” Green Trade manager Thun Vireak said.

Green Trade said it planned to send representatives to Europe to scour the market for international buyers in September.

The firm has sold 2,600 tonnes of rice abroad so far this year, including shipments of 200 tonnes to Russian buyers, 200 tonnes to Poland, 200 tonnes to Latvia and 2,000 tonnes sold to the World Food Programme.

 

Cambodia Exports Rice to Europe

The Cambodian Small and Medium Industries Association will begin exporting 2,656 tonnes of rice worth nearly US$1 million to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Sweden later this month, reported The Phnom Penh Post on 12 July 2010.

The association also exported some 5,000 tonnes to European markets from January to July this year, and aims to ship a total of 7,000 to 10,000 tonnes to European countries including France, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Germany, Estonia and Latvia during the rest of 2010.

It said it received support from the Ministry of Commerce and the Export Market Access Fund, a World Bank-supported organisation with the mission of addressing financial and technical constraints faced by Cambodian exporters.

Golden Rice Cambodia Co Ltd has exported the European Union 5,000 tonnes of Jasmine rice to date in 2010 and is on track to hit its target of 20,000 tonnes by year end, according to The Phnom Penh Post on 16 June 2010. “We hope that we will be able to export rice in larger amounts in the future because it is of a quality to meet international market demands,” the company general manager Chan Vuthy said.

 

 

 

Korean Firm to Buy 40,000 Tonnes of Cambodian Corn

The Cambodian arm of South Korea's agricultural investment company Korea Overseas Grain Investment and Development Co Ltd was planning to buy about 40,000 tonnes of the Kingdom's red corn next year, The Phnom Penh Post reported on 7 July 2010.

KOGID Cambodia Co planned to spend about US$7 million on red corn from the western provinces of Battambang, Pailin and Banteay Meanchey, Kogid Cambodia manager Oung Savuth said.

He said that in order to support the plan, the company had built a corn-drying plant – able to dry 20 tonnes of corn an hour – in Ratanak Mondul district of Battambang province, and that the plant was being operated in a trial stage.

According to a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries report, last year's total red corn harvest was 780,754 tonnes – 672,177 tonnes of which was from Battambang, Pailin and Beanteay Meanchey provinces.

In June 2009, KOGID Cambodia announced that it had invested $150 million to buy from 70,000 to 150,000 tonnes of red corn per year from Cambodia to export to South Korea for processing into animal feed.

 

 

Announcement

The 5 th Cambodia Import-Export and One-Province-One-Product Exhibition 2010 will be held from 15 to 18 December 2010 at the Koh Pich Center, Phnom Penh.

On the sidelines of this exhibition, a Business and Investment Forum, Business Meetings, Seminar on Trade Promotion and music performance will also be organized.