Unofficial Translation

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An opens Jimmy Carter Work project

OUDONG, Cambodia: November 21, 2009: Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An, and the former US President on Saturday officially opened the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Kandal province where 21 houses were built for the poor Cambodians.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sok An said he was pleased with the humanitarian work done by the Project, led by the former US President Jimmy Carter over the last 26 years, for building of the houses for those who are relocated from the Steung Meanchey dumpsite outskirt of Phnom Penh.

“This project is of course to promote the living standard of the poor Cambodians as well as contribute to social welfare activities which aims at reducing poverty,” Dr. Sok An told the crowd attended by the American ambassador to Cambodia and volunteers who participated in building the houses.

He also said the housing project contributes to the country’s political and social stability, which has been materialized by the Royal Government of Cambodia after two decades of civil war which was ended in 1998.

“The presence of Jimmy Carter and Madam reflects another step of enhancing the good bilateral cooperation and friendship between Cambodia and the United States of America,” Sok An said.

There are 250 Cambodian volunteers joined hands with foreign volunteers in the housing project of the New Life Community which is surrounded by rice fields in Oudong about 40 km north of Phnom Penh.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former US President Jimmy Carter said before cutting the ribbon that he was impressed with the contribution made by the Royal Government of Cambodia for making this project possible as well as receiving the delegation to visit this beautiful Southeast Asian nation.

“For 26 years, my wife and I each year have gone to build habitat homes but we never had an exciting ceremony than this one and never had a beautiful place,” Carter told the cheerful villagers of 500.

Carter said his project has planned to build another 166 homes this week in the Mekong countries, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Another 50,000 homes will be built in the next five years including 6,000 houses alone in Cambodia.

“This is a great demonstration of the Cambodian leadership in this region of the world.”

“It is a wonderful work,” Carter, who is accompanied by his wife Rosalynn, told the crowd waved Cambodian and American flags.

(Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers)