Peacekeepers Off to Central African Republic

[geovalin]

A contingent of 216 Cambodian soldiers departed for a UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (CAR) yesterday after a sending-off ceremony yesterday presided over by General Pol Saroeun, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and Marie-Odile Emond, a representative of the United Nations’ country team in Cambodia. Unit 459, the third military engineering unit to be deployed to the CAR, is replacing Unit 549 and will be tasked with improving military infrastructure in the landlocked nation, Gen. Saroeun said.
 

“This is the third unit deployed to Central African Republic where they will work in construction, building new settlement bases. They will also be responsible for helping forces increase their mobility and will assist with any other engineering support in the eastern part of the country,” Gen. Saroeun said, adding that Unit 549 is set to return to Cambodia on Friday. “This really reflects the significant contribution and the strong commitment of the Cambodian government.”
 

Ms. Emond added that today’s ceremony acted as a reminder of the contributions of the UN to the Kingdom some 20 years ago and was testament of the strong relationship between Cambodia and the UN. “This ceremony reminds us that two decades ago, UN peacekeeping forces were sent here. But Cambodia now sends troops and expertise to UN peacekeeping operations in different countries,” she said.

 

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