Cambodia and France Sign Conventions on Further Military Cooperation

As the Cambodian Ministry of Defence reported today, three conventions on defence cooperation between France and Cambodia were signed formally on Thursday July 15, 2009 by General Moeng Samphan, Secretary of State for National Defence, and Mr. Lemachand Laurent, First Secretary of French Embassy to the Kingdom of Cambodia at the office of national defence ministry in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Under the 1994 agreement between Cambodian and French governments, the Cambodia Defence Ministry has signed a series of conventions on defence cooperation, said Gen. Moeng Samphan. He also stated that France and Cambodia have a long traditional relationship. A recent formal visit by Cambodian Prime minister to France is to increasingly strengthen ties, cooperation and solidarity between the two countries.In response, Mr. Lemachand Laurent praised for Cambodian Defence Ministry’s effort and cooperation with the French military mission. He said the three new conventions signed on Thursday are added to the previous conventions aiming at continuing to train and build up military skills, especially in gendarmeries skills and the knowledge of the French language for CRAF, among them some of whom will be sent to the training schools and military academy in France.