MINE AWARENESS DAY: LAO UXO NATIONAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY OFFICIALLY OPENS

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000326



SIPDIS



SENSITIVE

SIPDIS



DEPT FOR PM/WRA and EAP/MLS (JWEYER)



E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KHDP, LA



SUBJ: MINE AWARENESS DAY: LAO UXO NATIONAL REGULATORY

AUTHORITY OFFICIALLY OPENS



1. (U) Summary: On April 4 the GOL commemorated

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine

Action by holding an official opening of the National

Regulatory Agency (NRA). The event was hosted at NRA

headquarters by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the

NRA Axang Laoly, and included remarks by UNDP Resrep Finn

Reske Nielsen, UNICEF Country Representative Olivia Yambi,

and NRA Director Maligna Saignavongs. Laoly thanked the

various donors to the UXO sector over the years, including

the United States. Post released a statement in support of

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine

Action, congratulating the NRA, and noting USG assistance to

the sector. The statement was printed in an English

language daily newspaper, and USG support was noted in Lao

language newspaper articles about the event. End Summary.



NRA Grand Opening

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2. (U) The GOL hosted donors, UXO operators and NGOs for the

NRA opening ceremony at NRA headquarters on April 4.

Following remarks, UNDP Resrep and Deputy Minister of Labor

and Social Welfare and Vice Chairman of the NRA Laoly

Faiphengyoua signed a document officially establishing the

NRA as the independent regulatory body with overall

responsibility for UXO Clearance in Laos. The NRA will

implement the long-term strategic plan for UXO clearance,

provide policy direction, license clearance operators and

give quality assurance for all clearance activities. The

event served also to commemorate the first International Day

for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.



Post Press Release

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3. (U) In conjunction with the April 4 events, Post issued

a press release to congratulate the NRA and to highlight the

USG's assistance to the Lao UXO sector, which read:



The United States joins in observing April 4th as the

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine

Action, and the U.S. Embassy, Vientiane congratulates the

National Regulatory Agency (NRA) on its official opening.

"We look forward to working closely with the NRA," remarked

U.S. Ambassador Patricia Haslach. "An effective,

independent NRA is crucial to continuing the progress in

reducing and removing the UXO problem in Laos." The U.S.

has contributed well over $25 million to UXO removal, public

awareness and victims' assistance programs in Laos since

1998, including $3.5 million in 2005. The U.S. Humanitarian

Mine Action Program supports mine action worldwide through

bilateral and multilateral assistance and through more than

50 public-private partnerships with non-governmental

organizations and civic groups. As the world leader in

helping to reduce the impact of persistent landmines and

unexploded ordnance left from past conflicts, the United

States is honored to participate in commemorative activities

to help publicize this important issue.



4. (SBU) The press release was printed in its entirety in

KPL News, a daily English language newspaper, and the USG's

assistance to the sector was noted in Lao language newspaper

articles about the NRA event. This is a welcome change from

a recent lack of recognition of the USG's large role in

funding UXO activities in Laos, including articles that

mentioned, among donors to the sector, India's assistance in

English language training for UXO personnel, but pointedly

did not mention the USG, historically one of the largest

donors. Post will continue to monitor press coverage to

ensure that the recognition was not an isolated instance.



HASLACH