Defense Minister Tea Banh on Monday agreed to support Malaysia’s proposal to establish a regional peacekeeping force by providing Cambodian deminers if the plan moves forward, according to Malaysian media.
During a meeting in Phnom Penh, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said, General Banh promised to provide military support if the Asean-wide force were launched, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported Tuesday.
“General Tea Banh…has highlighted to me Cambodia’s potential contribution for the peacekeeping force in clearing landmines,” Mr. Hishammuddin is quoted as saying in a statement.
Cambodia has in recent years provided peacekeepers to U.N. missions in Chad, Sudan, South Sudan and Lebanon.
Once deployed, they are often tasked with locating and defusing landmines.
Malaysia’s The Sun newspaper reported that a statement issued by Mr. Hishammuddin said the Asean peacekeeping force would serve the U.N.
