Friday, 11 September 2009
By Vong Sokheng
Phnom Penh Post
THIRTY top officials from the Royal Thai Air Force are to pay a one-day visit to Phnom Penh on September 14 for discussions with their Cambodian counterparts about cooperation, training and "maintaining mutual respect for airspace sovereignty", Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat told the Post Thursday.
By Vong Sokheng
Phnom Penh Post
THIRTY top officials from the Royal Thai Air Force are to pay a one-day visit to Phnom Penh on September 14 for discussions with their Cambodian counterparts about cooperation, training and "maintaining mutual respect for airspace sovereignty", Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat told the Post Thursday.
The meeting comes a month after the head of Thailand's Chanthaburi-Trat base apologised to the Cambodian government for violating Cambodia's airspace in Pursat province.
Chhum Socheat said Thai Air Force Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong (pictured) and his subordinates would meet with Defence Minister Tea Banh, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander in Chief Pol Saroeun and Soeung Samnang, commander of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.
He said the visit was part of a broader effort to improve military cooperation between the two countries.
Thai Air Commander To Visit After Violations
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10 September 2009
Thailand’s chief air marshal, Itthaporn Subhawong, will come to Cambodia next week to meet high-ranking military commanders, following reports that Thai aircraft had crossed as deep as 30 kilometers into Cambodian territory.
The commander of Thailand’s air force will be accompanied by 30 senior officers when he visits Sept. 14, defense officials said.
Thai fighter jets have reportedly flown into Cambodia three times over Pailin province recently, and a reconnaissance plane more than 10 times in the area near Preah Vihear temple, where a military standoff is underway between the neighbors. Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned he could order such flights shot down.
Nevertheless, Cambodian military officials said Itthaporn’s visit would be one of cooperation.
“This visit is very important for the Cambodian and Thai air forces to exchange their experiences with each other and to strengthen their cooperation,” said Chhum Socheath, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.
Itthaporn is expected to meet with Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, Pol Saroeun, commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and Sin Samnang, commander of Cambodia’s air force.
The delegations “may raise the problem of Thai jet fighters violating Cambodian airspace,” Chhum Socheath said.
Thailand has written official apologies for the violations, claiming they were due to the presence of dark clouds over the border.
Chhum Socheat said Thai Air Force Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong (pictured) and his subordinates would meet with Defence Minister Tea Banh, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander in Chief Pol Saroeun and Soeung Samnang, commander of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.
He said the visit was part of a broader effort to improve military cooperation between the two countries.
Thai Air Commander To Visit After Violations
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10 September 2009
Thailand’s chief air marshal, Itthaporn Subhawong, will come to Cambodia next week to meet high-ranking military commanders, following reports that Thai aircraft had crossed as deep as 30 kilometers into Cambodian territory.
The commander of Thailand’s air force will be accompanied by 30 senior officers when he visits Sept. 14, defense officials said.
Thai fighter jets have reportedly flown into Cambodia three times over Pailin province recently, and a reconnaissance plane more than 10 times in the area near Preah Vihear temple, where a military standoff is underway between the neighbors. Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned he could order such flights shot down.
Nevertheless, Cambodian military officials said Itthaporn’s visit would be one of cooperation.
“This visit is very important for the Cambodian and Thai air forces to exchange their experiences with each other and to strengthen their cooperation,” said Chhum Socheath, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.
Itthaporn is expected to meet with Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, Pol Saroeun, commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and Sin Samnang, commander of Cambodia’s air force.
The delegations “may raise the problem of Thai jet fighters violating Cambodian airspace,” Chhum Socheath said.
Thailand has written official apologies for the violations, claiming they were due to the presence of dark clouds over the border.
1 comment:
the thai visits is a waste of time and money. every time thai leaders come to cambodia they always talk about "cooperation", but they never talked about withdrawing troops from cambodian territories.
talking about maintaining respect for airspace sovereignty? thailand should be ashamed of this because its airplanes have violated cambodian airspace many, many times before.
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