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/
