CDC - Statement by the Delegation of Belgium


CAMBODIAN CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETING Phnom Penh, June 19-21, 2002 Statement by the Delegation of Belgium Session VI “External financing and pledging session"

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, One year ago, a General Agreement on Co-operation was signed between Cambodia and Belgium. In that framework we approved an Indicative Co-operation Programme for the years 2002 to 2004, amounting to 21.7 Millions Euro. Its objective is to contribute to the realization of the Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Government of Cambodia, in a partnership and ownership approach. As you know, and in order to maximize the use of our human and financial resources, most of our involvement will concentrate on three provinces — Siem Reap, Otdar Meanchey and Kampong Cham, and on to two sectors: education and health. Those two programmes are now in the design phase. Their physical implementations are scheduled to take place beginning of 2003. Our cooperation programme includes also the following activities: - a “consultancy fund”, a tool aiming at facilitating studies for new projects; - a support to the “explosive ordnance disposal” programme, through the strengthening of the EOD capacity of CMAC; - a facility for funding of local and regional training; - a support to the management of the Mekong River through the MRC; - scholarships and fellowships. The activities in the education and health sectors, will support the Government of Cambodia’s decentralization and pro-poor strategy policy. Therefore, Belgium would like to join the international community with respect of stressing again the need for adequate implementation of those policies, with special focus on increased budget allocations to the social sectors, to rural areas and improved human resource management. Regarding the Mekong River Commission, our contribution is currently three fold: - Partial financing of the Cambodian contribution to the MRC; - Support to the establishment of a Master Plan for the Water borne transport sector in the Mekong Delta; - And technical assistance to the MRC. In addition, in the Tonle Sap region, we keep funding a Natural Resources management programme implemented through the UN agency FAO. The overall objective is to establish responsible, productive and sustainable management of forest and fishery resources by local communities in the province of Siem Reap. The preparation of a book on the eco-system and the human settlements in the Tonle Sap Lake is currently underway. Together with the international community, we encourage the Government to increase its efforts towards sustainable development of community forestry and fisheries in Cambodia. We also hope that the Government of Cambodia will pursue its efforts to stabilize the country, to fight impunity, corruption and deforestation, and to promote human rights. Still, at our level and jointly with the international community and the European Union, we will try to support the Government’s efforts and the aspirations of the Khmer people towards those goals, which are part of the global democratic process. In this context, I would like to conclude by recalling the Belgian contribution to the last Commune Elections. I thank you