Cambodian Engineering Units Honored for Completing UN Peacekeeping Missions in Africa and Lebanon

Cambodia's Multi-Functional Engineering Battalions No. 486 and No. 863 have successfully completed their United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and Lebanon, returning home to be honored. General Chai Sangyun, Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense, representing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Tea Seiha, attended the ceremony to award medals to the returning units. He praised their brilliant achievements in fulfilling international missions for global peace and humanitarian causes, testifying to Cambodia's commitment to world peace. The ceremony was also attended by Major General Sem Rothana, Acting Director General of the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines, and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance; Ms. Fladanka Ivanova, UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia; along with numerous national and international distinguished guests, including officers and soldiers. General Chai Sangyun stated that the achievements of the engineering units form the basis for protecting citizens, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting long-term stability. Their capacity to perform diverse tasks has accelerated response times, increased flexibility in resource utilization, reduced delays in operations, and strengthened the resilience of the entire mission. He emphasized that this is a crucial capability for Cambodian engineering units in the context of modern peacekeeping missions, and enhancing operational efficiency is the most important goal, achievable through investment in human resources, pre-deployment training, continuous professional skill development, foreign language proficiency, leadership development, and strengthening the ability to work with multinational forces. He further added that the use of modern technology, appropriate engineering equipment, geographic information systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and efficient machinery maintenance systems enhances the quality and safety of operations. However, he stressed that success is not solely dependent on technical capabilities but on the fundamental basis of "unity, solidarity, patience, and genuine will." Unity within the unit fosters trust, discipline, solidarity, and mutual support, enabling forces to perform their duties effectively even in difficult situations. Likewise, unity among multinational forces is indispensable. Close collaboration with military forces, police, civilian officials, humanitarian organizations from various countries, and local authorities, along with mutual respect, good coordination, and shared responsibility, are forces that drive mission success. According to Major General Sem Rothana, over the past 20 years, under the successful leadership of Samdech Techo and the Royal Government, and in line with the "Strategic Pentagon" Phase 1 strategy of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, and directives from the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff, and various national institutions, a total of 10,914 personnel, including 1,083 women, have been deployed on 12 missions in 10 countries, including Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central Africa, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, Cyprus, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Currently, 475 personnel, including 95 women, are serving on missions in four countries: South Sudan, Lebanon, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Source: CPP Cambodia