The 4th Meeting of Steering Committee
The 4th Steering Committee Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) was held on 29 November 2017 at the Permanent Secretariat of ARMAC, to discuss the establishment and operationalisation of ARMAC. The Chair of the 4th SC Meeting was H.E. Christopher B. Montero, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Cambodia and Chair of the SC of ARMAC in 2017. Attendees were the Steering Committee Members from all ASEAN Member States, a delegate from the ASEAN Secretariat and the Executive Director (ED) of ARMAC, who assumed his position on 20 October 2017.
Apart from the discussion of the Budget and Work Plan, ED’s report on ARMAC’s implementation progress was a focus of the meeting. The progress report included: (i) developing ARMAC’s systems for finance, admin, HR, procurement and asset management; (ii) the project management manual, (iii) ARMAC’s website, logo and stamp; (iv) recruitment of ARMAC Staff.
At the end of meeting, H.E. Christopher B. Montero handed the Chairmanship over to H.E. Michael Tan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Singapore to the Kingdom of Cambodia, who will Chair ARMAC’s Steering Committee in 2018.
(ARMAC, 29 November 2017)
3rd Steering Committee Meeting
The Third Meeting of the Steering Committee of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) was held on 03 July 2017 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Christopher B. Montero, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to Cambodia and Chair of the Steering Committee (SC) of ARMAC. All members of the Steering Committee, ASEAN Secretariat, and Interim Executive Director of ARMAC attended the Meeting.
The discussion of the Meeting focused on the operationalisation of the Center, including the revised Annual Operational Budget 2017, its Work Plan (2017-2018) and the selection of Executive Director. As a host country, the Royal Government of Cambodia has provided full funding support for the first two years of ARMAC’s operations (2017-2018).
The Establishment of ARMAC in Cambodia was the initiative of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, during Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2012. The Official Inaugural Ceremony of ARMAC Headquarters in Phnom Penh was launched on 25 May 2016 and presided over by H.E. PRAK Sokhonn, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and attended by representatives from ASEAN Member States, and relevant organizations.
Since the Interim Executive Director assumed office on 20 April 2017, ARMAC is currently serving as a center of excellence to assist interested ASEAN Member States in research, knowledge sharing and raising awareness of the effects of explosive remnants of war (ERW) and encourage efforts to address them.
ASEAN to Operationalise the Regional Mine Action Centre
The Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Committee of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) was held yesterday at the ARMAC’s Headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The meeting discussed the substantive matters for the full operationalisation of ARMAC, including the selection of the Executive Director, the Annual Operational Budget and the two-year work plan (2017-2018) of the Center.
It is the first meeting to kick start the Center into full function since it was established through the adoption of its Terms of Reference by the ASEAN Leaders in 2013. Upon full operationalisation, ARMAC will serve as a center of excellence to assist interested ASEAN Member States in research, knowledge sharing and raising awareness of the effects of explosive remnants of war and encourage efforts to address them.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Prasith Sayasith, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Cambodia, as the Chair of the Steering Committee of ARMAC and attended by the Representatives of all ASEAN Member States to the Steering Committee of ARMAC and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The establishment of ARMAC in Cambodia was the initiative of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia during Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2012.
(Press Release by ASEAN Secretariat, 22 September 2016)