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French experts start drilling ‘blue helmets’ in demining

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NPMEC director-general Sem Sovanny (right) meets with a French military expert on January 16. NPMEC

French experts start drilling ‘blue helmets’ in demining

Two French military training instructors have arrived in the Kingdom on a mission to train Cambodian “blue helmets” in landmine clearance for four weeks at the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces (NPMEC).

Slated to run from January 16 to February 13, the main focus of the training for the Cambodian peacekeepers will be on landmine clearance as well as some other mission areas shared by UN forces, according to a social media post by NPMEC, which is operated by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).

“The two French instructors are committed to doing their best to train Cambodian forces to fulfil their missions more efficiently under the UN umbrella, especially mine clearance in order to make Cambodia a mine-free country by 2025,” the post said.

Meeting with his French counterpart, NPMEC director-general Sem Sovanny said France has always provided Cambodia’s blue-helmet soldiers with training to maintain their security and safety while abroad and to familiarise them with the French language.

French instructor Yann Pollet said he is pleased to take part in the training of Cambodian forces for a second time.

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