Blog

12 Nov
The Visit of Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations to ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC)

Phnom Penh: 12 November 2021, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General of Middle East Asia and the Pacific, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations visited the ARMAC Headquarters, along with the UN-related delegations. ARMAC Acting Executive Director (ED), Ms. Chanthana Sengthong provided an overview of ARMAC’s ongoing and pipeline projects and their challenges. The potential partnership between ARMAC and the UN agencies was suggested by both parties, to enhance regional cooperation and to achieve sustainable institutionalization. H.E. Mr. Khaled Khiari expressed his appreciation for the visit to ARMAC and showed his interest to understand further landmine/ERW issues in the ASEAN region and efforts to address them. He accepted the proposal to enhance the center’s capacity/expertise and delivered positive messages supporting ARMAC to take a more prominent role in humanitarian mine action work in the region.

27 Oct
Potential Collaboration Between ARMAC and JICA Cambodia

Phnom Penh: 27 October 2021 – ARMAC Executive Director (ED) and Management staff met with JICA Deputy Chief Representative Mr. Shinji Yahagawa,  and JICA Technical Advisor to CMA Mr. Hayashi Akihita to explore future opportunities for collaboration.

During the meeting, ARMAC ED gave an overview of the organization‘s ongoing and pipeline projects. He also provided examples on which areas can ARMAC and JICA possibly engage with to promote regional cooperation, and partnership.

JICA shared that their experience on South-South Cooperation using Cambodia and Lao PDR exemplified successful partnerships between Japan and ASEAN countries.  As a center of excellence under the ASEAN Security Cooperation, both ARMAC and JICA agreed that that ARMAC’s role is to broker between stakeholders/partners in the region to widen the scope of South-South cooperation in the mine action sector.

A video presentation showing ARMAC’s engagements in the last 4 years was also shown.

25 Oct
ARMAC received voluntary financial contribution from the Government of Brunei Darussalam
On 25 October 2021, ARMAC received voluntary financial contribution from the Government of Brunei Darussalam. The cheque was presented to ARMAC ED by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to Cambodia H.E. Mr. Pengiran Kasmirhan Pengiran Tahir who is concurrently the Chair of ARMAC Steering Committee. ARMAC ED expressed his sincere gratitude to the generous support provided to ARMAC during Brunei’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2021 and looking forward to the continued support for the cause of humanitarian mine action from the people and the government of Brunei Darrussalam in the coming years.
31 Aug
ARMAC received financial support from Viet Nam

31 August 2021 – ARMAC received financial support from the Embassy of Viet Nam in Cambodia, MB Bank Plc., and M.G.N. Emperor Bank during an in-person meeting between ARMAC staff and Vietnamese representatives on 31 August 2021.

ARMAC Executive Director (ED) advised everyone that the funds will go a long way to help sustain ARMAC’s operations and finance activities in the pipeline. ARMAC ED also delivered a short presentation highlighting the work of ARMAC, and potential future collaborations with Vietnamese entities. ARMAC ED also expressed his gratitude to Viet Nam’s continuous support to ARMAC including the joint organizing of the Friends of ARMAC inaugural launch in September.

Embassy of Viet Nam Charge d’ Affaires Mr. Lai Xuan Chien,​ and​​​​​​ M.G.N Emperor Bank CEO Mr. John Tran​​​ were present during the meeting.

14 Jul
ARMAC Team Pays Courtesy Call to Ambassador of Lao PDR

14 July 2021 – ARMAC team led by its Executive Director Prum Suonpraseth paid a courtesy call on Lao PDR Ambassador H.E. Mr. Amphay Kindavong at His Excellency’s Office in Phnom Penh.

ARMAC ED provided an update to Ambassador H.E. Mr. Amphay Kindavong, regarding latest projects and initiatives by the Center including the planned arrangement for the upcoming Friends of ARMAC Event which is targeted in Quarter 4 of 2021.

Their discussions also touched on ARMAC’s catalytic role as coordinator for the region; and how ARMAC can remain sustainable in the long run. ARMAC ED thanked the Ambassador for the Government’s continued support and financial contribution to ARMAC.

12 Jun
ARMAC meets with ASEAN-Germany and GIZ for potential collaboration in 2022

ARMAC meets with ASEAN-Germany and GIZ for potential collaboration in 2022

11 June 2021 – ARMAC and senior officials from the Embassy of Germany in Jakarta and GIZ met online and discussed about potential cooperation in 2022.

Institutional capacity building, outreach & communication, and knowledge management were discussed and identified as potential areas for cooperation between ARMAC and Germany.

11 Jun
ARMAC joins Fifth Forum of Entities Associated with ASEAN

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.

27 May
ARMAC joins the 24th International Meeting of Mine Action National Director and United Nations Advisers

ARMAC joins the 24th International Meeting of Mine Action National Director and United Nations Advisers

24-27 May 2021 – ARMAC Executive Director Prum Suonpraseth and Programmes staff participated in the online meetings. The meetings provided an opportunity for the mine action community to reconnect, share knowledge and enhance the collective capacity to address old and new challenges under the overarching theme of “Perseverance, Partnership, Progress”.

This year’s meeting was organized by the United Nations with the generous support from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. For more information on the 24th NDM, see 24th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers | E-Mine

(ARMAC, 27 May 2021)

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.

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