Australia Admits Cambodia Postponed Military Cooperation

Cambodia has delayed two of its military cooperation programs with Australia, the Australian Defense Department said Thursday, after it emerged this week that U.S.-backed programs had also been postponed following the July 28 national election.

Dave Gordge, first secretary and deputy head of mission at the Australian Embassy, provided a statement Thursday from the Department of Defense in Australia.

“Cambodia has postponed a maritime security workshop (which is currently being rescheduled at Cambodia’s request) and a counter-terrorism training activity,” the statement says. “Other aspects of our defense cooperation program with Cambodia are continuing as normal.” …

According to the embassy’s website, Australian counterterrorism training provided to Cam­bodia “has included basic training through to advanced skills incorporating fieldcraft, navigation, medical training, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Im­provised Explosive Device (EOD/IED) training.” …

Lieutenant General Suon Samnang, director of policy and planning at the Defense Ministry’s department of policy and foreign affairs, said that a maritime security training program originally slated for June had been postponed.

“We delayed the maritime security workshop with Australia be­cause we were busy with the election, but it might be renewed in the first or second week of next month,” he said. …

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/australia-admits-cambodia-postponed-military-cooperation-39885/