Cambodia destroys surface-to-air missiles

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Cambodia destroys surface-to-air missiles

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Cambodia destroyed its 50 pieces of stocked Man Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) Wednesday at Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Armor Center ACO in Kompong Speu province, about 60 km from Phnom Penh.

Cambodia's Co-Ministers of Defense Tea Banh and Prince Sisowath Sirirath and US Ambassador to Cambodia Charles A. Ray presided over the public destruction ceremony.

This event was conducted by RCAF troops, in cooperation with a US Army Explosive Disposal Team.

"No more worries that they would be taken out of the country," Tea Banh told reporters after the 50 missiles were destroyed.

"Cambodia is a small country that has just emerged from war. But Cambodia denies weapons trafficking and has practically implemented collecting and demolishing weapons by itself," he said.

Tea Banh said that since 1999, Cambodia has confiscated 119,104pieces of small arms and destroyed 120,449 weapons by burning down and crashing.

The Cambodian government announced to destroy its entire stock of 233 A-72 surface-to-air missiles on Dec. 16, 2003 saying it is for an effort to prevent them from falling into the hands of international terrorists.

The decision was the outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Charles A. Ray on Dec. 15, in order to enhance cooperation between Cambodia and the United States to combat terrorism.

The total of 233 pieces of missiles, imported from former Soviet Union in 1980s, will be destroyed from March 24 to April 2,for 15 to 20 pieces per day, according to Lieutenant General Chau Phirun, director general of Materials and Technical Services.

The United States welcomes the Cambodian decision to destroy these missiles as part of its effort to combat terrorism. The United States has assisted 233,000 US dollar to help Cambodia implement the initiative.

Cambodia is the only country in Asia that has made this commitment to date.

"Cambodia is setting an important precedent by pledging to destroy these missiles," Charles A. Ray said in his speech. "The United States will continue to aid Cambodia not only in its destruction of its obsolete weapons this morning, but also in securing its remaining weapons systems."

Source: Xinhua

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