Cambodian PM Initiates ASEAN Civil War Free Zone

2012-05-29  
Xinhua      
 Web Editor: liuranran 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday initiated an ASEAN Civil War Free Zone, saying the initiative will make the region even stabilized and developed.

The premier's remarks were made during a 30-minute meeting with the ASEAN defense ministers ahead of the 6th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, Eang Sophallet, the spokesman for the Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters after the meeting.

The cooperation in defense sector among ASEAN member states is very significant to build peace, stability and prosperity for an ASEAN Community in 2015, said Hun Sen.

He urged ASEAN defense ministers to focus their cooperation not only on defense sector, but also on humanitarian activities in any event of natural disasters.

He said the roles of armed forces are more important in assisting victims during natural disasters.

Moreover, the premier also urged ASEAN member states to consider sending more armed forces to foreign countries for humanitarian operations under the United Nations umbrella in order to strengthen and expand ASEAN's roles on international arena.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) group Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.