US and Vietnam co-operate to reduce impact of unexplored ordnance
US Ambassador, Ted Osius, and Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen The Phuong on Wednesday co-chaired the First Annual Donor Forum of the Mine Action Partnership Group (MAPG), a gathering of Vietnamese mine action agencies and international stakeholders dedicated to making Vietnam safe from the impact of explosive remnants of war.
US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius speaks at the first gathering of Mine Action Partnership Group in Hanoi on March 15
Addressing the gathering, Osius said the goal is to make Vietnam impact free and allow its citizens, its children, to walk the earth in safety and free from fear.”
At the direction of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the MAPG was established to create an open dialogue between Vietnam and international partners on strategies, policies, and measures related to Vietnam’s Mine Action Programme (Programme 504). Each year, a member of the donor community will co-chair the form with Vietnam. As a long-standing partner in mine action, the US, represented by Ambassador Osius, was named co-chair for this first working year.
At yesterday’s donor forum, participants discussed the MAPG’s organisational structure and the 2017 work plan. Also, the co-chairs encouraged international stakeholders to continue their active role in reducing the impact of unexploded ordnance.
“We have always welcomed partnerships with other donors. With the UK, we have co-funded projects to build national capacity. With Japan, we support clearance efforts in Quang Binh to provide farmers with peace of mind. Ireland and the UK help us build expertise at the Quang Tri Legacy of War Co-ordination Centre. The private sector is teaching farmers how to effectively use land cleared through our projects. We willingly share experiences, such as with the Republic of Korea, who will soon become a major contributor. All of this is to say, the international community can make a difference in Vietnam, in many ways, big or small,” said Osius in his opening remarks.
US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius speaks at the first gathering of Mine Action Partnership Group in Hanoi on March 15
Addressing the gathering, Osius said the goal is to make Vietnam impact free and allow its citizens, its children, to walk the earth in safety and free from fear.”
At the direction of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the MAPG was established to create an open dialogue between Vietnam and international partners on strategies, policies, and measures related to Vietnam’s Mine Action Programme (Programme 504). Each year, a member of the donor community will co-chair the form with Vietnam. As a long-standing partner in mine action, the US, represented by Ambassador Osius, was named co-chair for this first working year.
At yesterday’s donor forum, participants discussed the MAPG’s organisational structure and the 2017 work plan. Also, the co-chairs encouraged international stakeholders to continue their active role in reducing the impact of unexploded ordnance.
“We have always welcomed partnerships with other donors. With the UK, we have co-funded projects to build national capacity. With Japan, we support clearance efforts in Quang Binh to provide farmers with peace of mind. Ireland and the UK help us build expertise at the Quang Tri Legacy of War Co-ordination Centre. The private sector is teaching farmers how to effectively use land cleared through our projects. We willingly share experiences, such as with the Republic of Korea, who will soon become a major contributor. All of this is to say, the international community can make a difference in Vietnam, in many ways, big or small,” said Osius in his opening remarks.
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