ASEAN REGIONAL MINE ACTION CENTER
11
Jun
ARMAC joins Fifth Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN
11 June 2021 – ARMAC ED Prum Suonpraseth participated in the virtual Fifth Forum of Entities Associate with ASEAN. The Forum was convened to further strengthen the partnership between entities and ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN sectoral bodies, ASEAN related centres, and among themselves.
One of the highlights of this year’s forum was the launch of the Entities Digital Platform, an independent cybernetic space for ASEAN’s associated entities and centres, which is embedded in the ASEAN website. It allows members to directly engage with one another; to post event announcements, and to call for applications. It also aims to streamline the accreditation process through digitalization.
The Forum was attended by about 100 participants representing ASEAN parliamentarians, judiciaries, youth, civil societies, women, and business and professional associations.
09
Jun
ARMAC staff participates in an Online Training Workshop for Mekong Specialists
29 May – 9 June 2021 – ARMAC Programs staff attended an online training course on Integrative Management and Coordination of National Mine Action Actors in the Mekong Region organized by Seoul Cyber University, Gyeonggi (Korea) Province in partnership with MAG International.
The course brings together representatives from mine action authorities in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam to develop a national action plan that is relevant in their respective country context.
As a regional entity focused on the humanitarian mine action, ARMAC brought a regional perspective during the discussions.
01
Jun
ARMAC signs MOU on Mine Action Technical and Resource Mobilisation Cooperation with Federation Handicap International
01 June 2021 – ARMAC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Federation Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion). Mekong Regional Program Director Ms. Pilar Duat Llorens, signed on behalf of HI, while Mr. Prum Suonpraseth represented ARMAC.
The online signing ceremony was attended by HI Country Manager for Cambodia Ms. Edith van Wijngaarden, HI Mine Action Coordinator in Lao Mr. Julien Kempeneers and Ms. Araceli Knaik, ARMAC Senior Technical Officer.
The MOU aims to strengthen the existing cooperation between HI and ARMAC in order to facilitate Mine Action-related joint programming and resource mobilization. The partnership will support of Mine Action-related capacity development of relevant national institutions through technical cooperation.
19
May
Proposed partnership with JICA-CMAC and ARMAC
Proposed partnership with JICA-CMAC and ARMAC
19 May 2021 – ARMAC Executive Director and Senior Technical Officer met with Mr. Hayashi Akihita, JICA Technical advisor to CMAC to discuss possible collaboration between ARMAC, CMAC and JICA. The proposed partnership aims to facilitate the sharing of Cambodia’s experience with other countries through international cooperation.
ED welcomed the opportunity to partner with the Governments of Japan and Cambodia as both countries have been actively supporting ARMAC since its inception. ED conveyed that ARMAC as a regional institution can facilitate knowledge sharing on areas that will be identified by the partnership.
06
May
13th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community
06 May 2021 – ARMAC Executive Director participated in a virtual meeting of the 13th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO). ED delivered a presentation entitled “Addressing the Challenges of Mine Action through Regional Cooperation among interested ASEAN Member States”.
ED ARMAC underscored the challenges facing effective mine action in the region, discussed about ARMAC’s achievements in addressing these challenges, and rallied the ASEAN Political-Security Community to actively support regional cooperation programs like ARMAC’s. ED thanked the ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat for their continued support to ARMAC. ED likewise expressed his confidence of cooperation programs with the APS community in the future.
08
Apr
Meeting with H.E. Ms. Amelita Aquino, Philippine Ambassador in Cambodia
08 April 2021 – ARMAC Executive Director and the Permanent Secretariat staff paid a courtesy call to H.E. Ms. Amelita Aquino, the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Cambodia where they discussed ARMAC’s role as a center of excellence in the region, under the ASEAN Security Cooperation, in addressing landmines and explosive remnants of war for interested ASEAN Member States (AMS); and the Philippine’s ongoing engagement with ARMAC.
ARMAC ED in their discussion underscored how the Philippines contribution and support during ARMAC’s formative years was instrumental in forging interests among other AMS. The Philippine ambassador on her part recognized ARMAC’s efforts in bringing about lasting peace, security and development in the region, and agreed to help mobilize support among AMS and the international community at large.
10
Mar
Meeting with H.E. Ms. Ayda Ünlü, Ambassador of the Turkish Embassy in Phnom Penh
10 March 2021 – the Chair of the Steering Committee of ARMAC, H.E. Mr. Pengiran Kasmirhan Pengiran Tahir, and the Executive Director of ARMAC, Mr. Prum Suonpraseth, paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador of Turkey to the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Ms. Ayda Ünlü.
The aim of the call was to introduce the new Chair and Executive Director of ARMAC to the Ambassador and to discuss future collaboration on the Humanitarian Mine Action between Turkey- and ASEAN. ARMAC would like to thank H.E. Ms. Ayda Ünlü for the warm welcome, her support to ARMAC’s Project under ASEAN-Turkey Fund on Building a Regional Community of Practice in Mine/ERW Action among ASEAN Member States and looks forward to enhance this partnership in years to come.
(ARMAC, 10 March 2021)
21
Feb
Meeting with H.E. Mr. Anatoly Borovik, the Ambassador of Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Cambodia
Meeting with H.E. Mr. Anatoly Borovik, the Ambassador of Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Cambodia
On 15 February 2021, the Executive Director of ARMAC, Mr. Prum Suonpraseth paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Anatoly Borovik, the Ambassador of Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Cambodia
ARMAC thanked the Ambassador Anatoly for reaffirming Russia’s continued cooperation with ARMAC, and its strong commitment to help end the threats from landmines and explosive remnants of war in Cambodia and the affected Member States of ASEAN.
ARMAC also thanked the Ambassador Anatoly for accepting the invitation to join Friends of ARMAC (FOA). ARMAC is ready and looks forward to working with the Russian Federation in order to address the humanitarian aspect of mine action in the region in line with ARMAC’s mandate and functions through trainings, capacity building activities, exchange visits, knowledge sharing and victim assistance.
16
Feb
Meeting with His Excellency Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Meeting with His Excellency Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia
On 16 February 2021, it was an honor for ARMAC Permanent Secretariat led by Executive Director Prum Suonpraseth to have the opportunity to pay a courtesy call to the His Excellency Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
During the meeting, ARMAC’s ED provided updates and progress achievements of ARMAC, including the current and future program activities of the Center to His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister.
The ED also took the opportunity to extend his thanks and sincere appreciation to His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister for his noble vision, wise leadership, dedication and perpetual support to ARMAC in addressing the humanitarian aspects of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in the region and in the world at large.
(ARMAC, 16 February 2021)
15
Feb
Meeting with H.E. Mr. Anatoly Borovik, the Ambassador of Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Cambodia
On 15 February 2021, the Executive Director of ARMAC, Mr. Prum Suonpraseth paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Anatoly Borovik, the Ambassador of Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Cambodia
ARMAC thanked the Ambassador Anatoly for reaffirming Russia’s continued cooperation with ARMAC, and its strong commitment to help end the threats from landmines and explosive remnants of war in Cambodia and the affected Member States of ASEAN.
ARMAC also thanked the Ambassador Anatoly for accepting the invitation to join Friends of ARMAC (FOA). ARMAC is ready and looks forward to working with the Russian Federation in order to address the humanitarian aspect of mine action in the region in line with ARMAC’s mandate and functions through trainings, capacity building activities, exchange visits, knowledge sharing and victim assistance.
Sidebar: