Remarks by Major Craig Tippins, Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Military's Assistance Program in Cambodia, U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh, July 4, 2006

The US Embassy and the Royal Government of Cambodia cooperate closely on a number of security related issues, and much of this work is coordinated through the Office of Defense Cooperation, also known as the ODC.  One aspect of our work is developing the capacity of our partners in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and in other government ministries.  To increase the expertise of these officials we conduct seminars on security related issues, and we sponsor Cambodian representatives to attend international conferences on such topics as counter-terrorism, peace keeping, security, military law, medical and health related activities, civil-military roles, and disaster response operations.  In 2006 the number of Cambodian participants traveling abroad for US funded training and education will exceed 80 personnel.

An important aspect of fighting terrorism, is keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of transnational operatives.  To this end, the ODC actively assists the Cambodian government in its efforts to destroy excess and obsolete weapons and munitions.  In October 2005, the US Government funded the destruction of Cambodia’s thirty-seven SA-3 missiles.  Funding was also provided for the destruction of various obsolete and excess munitions and weapons, including 11,682 anti-personnel mines; 25 tons of small arms ammunition; and 15 tons of mixed ordnance.    

To achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing in Cambodia as a result of combat in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command conducts investigative and recovery missions to Cambodia.  In the past year two missions were conducted in Kampong Thom Province.  Due to the excellent cooperation of the Cambodian government, we have recovered the remains of 29 US servicemen, but there are still 54 personnel missing in Cambodia. 

The ODC also facilitates various humanitarian projects in Cambodia.  Over the past few years, US Pacific Command has funded the construction of eight bridges and four schools throughout Cambodia as part of this program.  Thirty US Marines also constructed a medical clinic in October 2005 in Kompong Chhnang Province.  The net sum of the engineering projects funded by the United States under this program totals more than $2,000,000. 

In early 2006, US military personnel in cooperation with USAID and local NGOs conducted a humanitarian assistance medical mission in the provinces of Kampong Thom, Ratanakiri and Kompong Chhnang.  In little more than a month, the combined efforts of the entire medical team resulted in the medical and dental treatment of over 3,500 people, including the restoration of eyesight to 185 patients.  Additionally, over the last four years, the US Pacific Command has provided through the ODC more than $600,000 worth of mosquito nets in malaria-affected areas throughout Cambodia in order to help prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. 

Finally, the ODC is responsible for administering US government funded demining efforts in Cambodia.  Through its various demining programs, the US seeks to reduce civilian casualties and to return land to active use.  Our efforts include training in minefield management, wheeled vehicle maintenance, medical and explosive ordnance disposal.  We also work to create new ways for detecting, marking, clearing, and neutralizing mines.  One of the newest technologies being tested in Cambodia is a new type of mine detection system that has the ability to tell the difference between mines and general metal contamination.  The initial results of this new system have been extremely impressive, allowing operators to correctly identify the mines while ignoring the vast majority of metal clutter.  This new technology will help clear mines more safely, but at a faster rate.  Funding for US demining efforts in 2006 is expected to exceed $4.5 million.