Written by DAP NEWS -- Saturday, 12 September 2009Minister of Defense Tea Banh on September 18 will leave for the US on a visit aimed at strengthening cooperation, especially between the two nation’s armies, a senior army official told DAP News Cambodia on Friday.The official visit of the Defense Minister is to push cooperation among all fields between Cambodia and America following a formal invitation from the US to Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, who will leave for the US on September 22.“Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh is going to the US … to increase and strengthen relations and cooperation between the two nations,” said the senior army official.“This official visit is to talk about the matters at Preah Vihear Temple Border, having a row with Thailand.”The official visit comes after Mu Sochua, opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker, criticized the Cambodian Government, claiming that the court system in Cambodia is unfair and controlled by the ruling CPP. She lost a defamation case against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Mu Sochua recently called on the US Government to suspend military aid to Cambodian unless a regulatory framework for mineral and petroleum concessions is established. This criticism was met with disappointment by senior Cambodian army officials.“The US government gives support and helps Cambodia in order to promote more development in all fields,” said a senior Defense Ministry official. “Mu Sochua’s remarks will not destroy the nation, and the US Government will not be believe her, as it is only her personal opinion.”Srey Doeuk, Preah Vihear Temple Army Chief also strongly rejected Mu Sochua statements.“She is not a Khmer Citizen at all if she said this. She is a US citizen,” Srey Doek told DAP News Cambodia on Friday. “We soldiers stationed at Preah Vihear to prevent any territorial encroachment do not support what she said and we are not happy at all.”Ou Virak, director of the Human Rights Commission Center, on Friday said that the “Army aid … is not negative, but if it is equipment or budget aid used to abuse human rights, I do not support it at all.”Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong on Tuesday said that he will leave for the US on September 22 to attend an annual summit of the UN Security Council in. He will have a special talk with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to strengthen bilateral cooperation.“The bilateral talks are mainly to promote and push for more cooperation between the two parties,” he confirmed. Hor Namhong told US Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A.Rodley that Cambodia and US cooperation is developing. “Especially, the US Government decided to withdraw Cambodia out of its trade black list in June,” he said.The lifting of the trade black allows US investors in Cambodia to borrow money from US banks,.“The news funding brings to over US$250 million that the US has provided in support of health and education in Cambodia since 1999,” Hor Namhong claimed.But Cambodia owes the US Government more than US$300 million dating from the 1970s Lon Nol regime. The Cambodian PM on Monday this week asked the US Ambassador to Cambodia for the US Government to eliminate the debt.“We expect that all doubt being eliminated in the upcoming time and we hope that this agreement wills benefits to Cambodian making effort,” John Johnson of the US Embassy told DAP News Cambodia on Monday.
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