Security a priority for ASEAN-EU meeting

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Written by Sam Rith
Monday, 18 May 2009

NATIONAL Police spokesman Kirt Chantharith said Sunday that thousands of additional officers are to be deployed ahead of the arrival of leaders from 40 ASEAN and European nations for the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh on May 27-28.

"We have already prepared our forces [and] thousands of police and military police officers will work together," Kirt Chantharith said.

"We will start working three days in advance in order to safeguard the delegates who attend the meeting as well as to ensure the meeting goes smoothly."

The meeting, which rotates between ASEAN and EU countries every two years, is to address transnational strategies for fighting terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling and arms proliferation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong is to co-chair the meeting with Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, which is the current holder of the EU Council of Ministers' rotating presidency.

The 16th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting was held in Germany in March 2007.