AKP - The Agence Kampuchea Press

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AKP, Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011

A scene of a dreadful traffic accident happens on March 4 at Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nob district along National Highway No. 4, which killed 19 passengers and injured 8 others.

Photo: Ngo Somony

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Lao PM: Cambodia Is Victim of Thailand’s Internal Crisis

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, H.E. Thongsing Thammavong, recognized that Cambodia is victim of Thailand’s internal crisis, as the Lao government has followed closely Cambodian-Thai situation.

Cambodian Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith told here today a press conference upon the bilateral meeting between H.E. Thongsing Thammavong and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

H.E. Thongsing Thammavong praised the Cambodian government for having taken a just position and respected the international law and norms, which gained international community’s support, said H.E. Khieu Kanharith.

Anyway, Laos will do its best to help ease Cambodia-Thailand situation, he added.

For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Thai aggression on Cambodian territory was not by chance, but it was Thai senior leaders’ plan. “Cambodia does not want to wage war against any country, but it’s an obligation that Cambodia had to fight back against this aggression,” he stressed.

Cambodia’s principle is to negotiate multilaterally with Thailand on border dispute, but bilaterally on the fields of economy, tourism …, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

According to the information minister, both sides agreed to hold different events to mark the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand, including the inauguration of border marker at Dom Kralar under the presidency of both prime ministers.

Premier Samdech Techo Hun Sen also accepted the invitation to pay an official visit to Laos in an appropriate time, said Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith.

H.E. Thongsing Thammavong was appointed as Prime Minister of Laos in late December 2010. He arrived in Phnom Penh this morning for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

On the same day, the Lao premier was received in a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, at the Royal Palace, and he paid courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim and National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin respectively.

According to the schedule, H.E. Thongsing Thammavong will visit the National Museum tomorrow. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

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Vietnam’s Defense Minister To Visit Cambodia

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Defense Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Gen. Phung Quang Thanh will make an official and friendship visit to Cambodia from Mar. 9 to 11, according to a senior official of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense.

Gen. Phung Quang Thanh and his wife will visit Siem Reap province, he indicated.

The main purpose of the three-day visit is to discuss with the Cambodian side on the cooperation plan in 2011, which is expected to be signed during the visit, said the official.

Besides, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh is planning to visit the Kulen center for disabled soldiers, some military achievements donated by the Vietnamese side, and various temples and historical sites. –AKP

By Noeu

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Information Minister Khieu Kanharith: All Media Have To Stop Advertising Tobacco Products

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Information Minister Khieu Kanharith has called on all state-run and private media to cease their advertisement and promotion of tobacco products.

Speaking last Friday at a seminar held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Phnom Penh to disseminate a sub-decree issued on Feb. 24 by the Royal Government of Cambodia relating to the ban on tobacco product advertisement, Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith urged all printing and electronic media, radios, televisions to abide by the provisions of the sub-decree.

Any infringement of the sub-decree’s provisions will be punished not only on the tobacco production companies but also on the concerned institutions, he underlined.

“The issuance of the sub-decree by the Royal Government of Cambodia responds to the Article 13 of Convention on Control of Tobacco,” said H.E. Ing Phirun, Secretary of State to the Ministry of Health.

He further said that it also reflected Cambodia’s contribution to protecting the human resources from destruction caused by nicotine addiction, especially preventing the children, young people and females from falling into tobacco advertising traps.

Information Ministry Secretary of State H.E. Thach Phen said that the tobacco products claimed some 5.4 million lives a year in the whole world.

Tobacco products cause not only many problems to health, but also the loss of family income, and Cambodian people alone spend more than US$69.5 millions a year on buying cigarettes. –AKP

Article in Khmer by SUOS Samrith

Article in English by Ravuth M.

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Cambodian Airports To Include Passenger Service Charge into Air Ticket

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Cambodian airports will include the passenger service charge into air ticket starting from April 1, the Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports (SCA)’s press release said last week.

Adult Cambodian passenger is charged US$18 and under 12 years old US$10, while adult foreign passenger US$25 and under 12 years old US$13, but it’s free for under 2 year-old children.

In 2010, Phnom Penh International Airport alone received 1.7 million passengers, while Siem Rep International Airport got 1.5 millions. –AKP

By KHAN Sophirom

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FAO Provides Vegetable Seeds to Cambodian Farmers

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Under its European Union Food Program Project, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recently provided vegetable seeds and agricultural equipment to some 2,505 families in Battambang province’s Bavel district.

The grant ceremony was held under the presidency of Battambang Provincial Governor H.E. Prach Chan and Head of EU Food Program Project of FAO Mr. Tim Akin.

On the occasion, Mr. Tim Akin said some 50,000 families in ten provinces of Cambodia including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Takeo and Kampong Speu provinces will benefit from the project. –AKP

By LIM Nary

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Local Officials To Discuss Ways To Promote Southern Economic Corridor

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Local officials and private businessmen from 43 provinces in four Southeast Asian countries are meeting here, Mar. 9-10, to discuss ways of attracting investments and promoting growth along the southern economic corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

The 2-day symposium, organized by the Asian Development Bank and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), will bring together public and private stakeholders to discuss public investments, central and provincial government policies, and private sector business environment conducive to the corridor’s development, according to a news release of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) covers provinces in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The GMS countries have envisioned SEC as an engine of economic growth and social development, creating jobs, increasing incomes, reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of the people in the areas while ensuring that its development is inclusive and sustainable.

“We need to look at GMS corridors as not simply a connection between two points because their effects also extend to other less developed areas that can enjoy enhanced access to major economic centers, and thereby reinforcing regional integration in the GMS,” said Pradeep Srivastava, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist in ADB’s Southeast Department.

Through the economic corridor approach, ADB is extending the benefits of improved transport links to remote and landlocked areas, handicapped by their lack of integration with more prosperous and better-located neighboring areas.

“A recent study commissioned by AusAID estimates that reducing trade costs could generate an increase in GDP of more than 6 percent for Cambodia and Laos, as well as significant benefits for other countries in the Mekong,” said Michael Wilson, AusAID’s Minister-Counsellor for Mekong and regional programs. “Improved connectivity will help to reduce poverty throughout the subregion.”

“Australia will also continue to work closely with Governments, other donor partners and civil society organizations in the Mekong to assist communities affected by the construction of new transport corridors to access fair compensation and services, as well as re-establish viable livelihoods,” said Mr. Wilson. –AKP

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FASMEC and ACCCIM Sign Agreement on Promoting Human Resources Training

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – The Federation of Association for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC) and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) have reached an agreement on promoting the human resources training and sharing the experience of small and medium enterprises.

The agreement was signed here last Thursday by the chairmen of FASMEC and ACCCIM, following the discussion between the two sides.

The aim of ACCCIM is to seek the trading partnership with Cambodian businessmen in goods exchanges.

At the signing ceremony, the chairman of ACCCIM briefed FASMEC on the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.

Mr. Te Taing Por, chairman of FASMEC, informed ACCCIM delegation of the national economic development in Cambodia, which covers 336,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises and absorbs roughly 1.4 million persons to engage in labor market.

Mr. Hun Lak, general secretary of FASMEC, was quoted by reporters as saying that Malaysian businessmen are interested in the investment in rubber plantation, palm oil plantation, furniture, palm oil processing plant and real estate in Cambodia. –AKP

By THOU Peou

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Indonesia Arranges Meetings of Cambodia-Thailand Border Committees

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Indonesia is arranging meetings of Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee and Joint Border Committee on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, said on Mar. 5 Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

The Cambodian premier also proposed Indonesia to set the dates for the meetings. “Indonesia, the host, will be the referee when both sides agree on whatever points,” he said during his visit to disabled soldiers in Chhuok district, Kampot province.

In his letter to his Cambodian, Thai counterparts and other foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, the Indonesian foreign minister, current Chair of ASEAN, mentioned that Cambodia absolutely accepted the terms of reference for the Indonesian observers to the border disputed areas, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Cambodia has arranged 14 places for the observers and for the period of 12 months. The time could be extended and the number of places to be observed could be added further, he stressed.

“I am aware that the Thai side does not oppose to the observers, but it is taking it into consideration,” the Cambodian prime minister quoted Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa as saying in the letter.

Thailand had declared to welcome observers from Indonesia and asked Cambodia to do so even though it is at the beginning Cambodia’s initiative. “But when Cambodia accepts [Indonesian observers], Thailand said it is taken into consideration,” said Samdech Techo Hun Sen. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

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PM: Disabled Soldiers Are Not Left Alone

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen along with Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen on Mar. 5 paid a visit to disabled soldiers and their families in Chhuok district of Kampot province as part of his inauguration of Bun Rany Hun Sen Koh Sla high school.

“Soldiers with disability should be respected because of their sacrifice to the nation,” addressed Samdech Techo Prime Minister to hundreds of participants, adding that he has encouraged a well planned social security mechanism for soldiers with disability and they will not be left alone without proper care.

According to the report of Gen. Tith Menglong, representative of Koh Sla development village, the Nov. 2007 established village has so far accommodated 254 families of disabled soldiers and each of whom received 1.5 hectare of land.

As of 2011, an average of 85 percent of the given land surface has been transformed into agricultural and animal husbandry areas. With more water sources and irrigation system, the residents of the development village are committed to make the best out of complete potential of the provided land.

In response, Samdech Techo Hun Sen ordered the construction of extra 30 pump wells, the rehabilitation of existing ponds and study for appropriate water catchment system to ensure sufficient water supply to those solder families.

The new education access at Bun Rany Hun Sen Koh Sla high school is another means capacitate children in the area, thus ensuring a sustainable family well-fare of the disabled soldiers. Moreover, a part of the scholarships given to Samdech Techo by different education institutions will be reserved for the children of these soldiers. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by MOM Chan Dara Soleil

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Cambodia on the Way to Boost Road Safety

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – At least 4,700 lives are expected to be saved by the 10-year Cambodia’s National Action for Road Safety, as said the Public Works and Transportation Minister H.E. Tram Iv Tek in his recent interview by the Global Ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign, Michelle Yeoh at the ministerial office.

Having once declared that of all the roles she has played, nothing has been more ‘important and fulfilling’ as her contribution to the campaign to improve road safety in the world, the Malaysian born international film actor focuses her interview with H.E Tram Iv Tek on the strategic action plans of the Royal Government of Cambodia to reduce the road accident alarming rate.

According to the public works and transportation minister, Cambodia has included extra two actions to United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety for in the national version after various consultations with concerned ministries and counterparts.

The National Action for Road Safety places significant emphasis on allocating sufficient financial resource, building technical capacity of relevant officials and qualifying the components of Road Crash and Victim Information System (RCVIS) in addition to various other strategic activities to mitigate road accident risk which is among key concerns of the government.

The ultimate aim of the national action is to bring down at least 30 percent of the death cases by 2020.

To further concretize the commitment, Cambodia will participate in the United Nations organized event to launch the Decade of Action for Road Safety in May 11, 2011. –AKP

By MOM Chan Dara Soleil