UNRC press release: UN celebrates its 64th birthday by meeting ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UN celebrates its 64 th birthday by meeting with Prime Minister
Wednesday, 28 October 2009, Ministry of Foreign Affairs-The United Nations Country Team and the Royal Government of
Cambodia jointly marked the anniversary of UN Day in a meeting to review common priorities yesterday. The
visitation with Prime Minister Hun Sen focused on the excellent working relationship between Cambodia and the UN.
“The United Nations brings around USD$100 million of development assistance to Cambodia each year but our support
stretches beyond the dollar value of this contribution. We have a long-standing history of promoting peace and human
development in Cambodia and we are extremely proud to serve the Cambodian people” expressed UN Resident
Coordinator to Cambodia, Douglas Broderick.
Discussed during the meeting were Climate Change, the Global Economic Crisis, Drugs, Disaster Management and
Cambodia’s support to International Peacekeeping. Among the highest priorities for the UN is helping Cambodia to
achieve its Millennium Development Goals including improving maternal health, the goal currently requiring the
most attention.
“The United Nations believes that no Cambodian woman should die giving life. We are committed to assisting the
Government to scale-up the quantity and quality of midwives and to improve access to emergency obstetrics care and
reproductive health services as part of our joint effort to advance maternal health” Mr Broderick assured the Prime
Minister.
The Prime Minister shared UN concern that the Millennium Development Goals could be endangered by the
combined impacts of the Global Economic Crisis and Climate Change but was grateful to the UN system for its
assistance in helping the Government compile information on the goals’ progress at sub-national level.
“We are very happy to have commune-level data, which helps us to more effectively target and prioritize development. It
helps us put the right policies in place in the right areas and to increase equity in assistance” said HE Prime Minister Hun
Sen, through his translator.
Regarding the Global Economic Crisis and its impact on the local economy, both sides recognized the importance of
coordinating closely to maintain focus on the most vulnerable groups.
“ We have been pleased by Cambodia’s active response to the Global Economic Crisis especially the attention given to social
protection and the progress made towards an integrated Social Safety Net strategy. The UN will work with the Government
to maintain efforts in this area of social protection to ensure that as the world moves out of this crisis, the poorest people are
protected from current and future economic shocks”
In closing the meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated the UN on its 64 th anniversary and vowed to continue the UN
Day tradition.
“It is good to listen to each other. It is important to maintain this high-level meeting once per year” the Prime Minister said.
Background note:
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United Nations Day (24 October) marks the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945.
It is celebrated around the world with meetings, discussions and exhibitions highlighting the achievements and aspirations of the Organization.
Cambodia joined the United Nations in December 1955