Speeches
Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Piper Campbell, Arrival Ceremony for the Visit of the USS Essex to Cambodia
Port of Sihanoukville
November 26, 2007
Your Excellency Say Hak, Governor of Sihanoukville;
Captain Brian Donegan, Commanding Officer, USS Essex;
Captain Anthony Pachuta, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 11;
Colonel John Mayer, Commander, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit;
Members of the Press
On behalf of the entire U.S. Embassy community, I am honored to welcome the USS Essex and its embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Sihanoukville. As you may know, this visit represents only the second time that a U.S. naval vessel has visited Cambodia in the past 30 years, with the first such visit being the USS Gary earlier this year.
These visits are a dramatic representation of the strengthening and broadening of the relationship between the United States and Cambodia. Our two nations have close cooperation on a number of issues such as the search for the remains of missing U.S. servicemen, the fight against terrorism, and training for peacekeeping operations. The visit of the USS Essex will build upon these partnerships and help to deepen our warming ties.
An important aspect of this visit is that thousands of Cambodians will have the opportunity to personally interact with some of America's finest ambassador's -- not its diplomats, but its Sailors and Marines. Hundreds of crew members from the Essex will provide medical and dental treatment to rural Cambodians, repair schools, conduct youth activities, and distribute donated items such as books, toys, clothes and medical supplies across Cambodia -- from here in Sihanoukville to Kampong Cham, from Preah Vihear to Kampong Chhnang. I can think of no finer symbol of the friendship between Americans and Cambodians than these people-to-people projects.
To conclude I would like to thank His Excellency the Governor of Sihanoukville and the entire Royal Government of Cambodia for all of their support in making this historic visit a successful one. And I would like to thank the ship's leadership and all its Sailors and Marines for their dedication to advancing American-Cambodian friendship. I wish you every success during this important mission.
