Cablegate: Cambodia Still Considering Ratification Of

VZCZCXRO4364
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #1021 3590848
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240848Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0236
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0001

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 001021

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TRA/OTP BRIAN SILER
MONTREAL PLEASE PASS TO USICAO
SINGAPORE PLEASE PASS TO FAA MARY WALSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON ICAO CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA STILL CONSIDERING RATIFICATION OF
MONTREAL CONVENTION

REF: STATE 109135

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

1. (SBU) In a series of meetings over the past two months,
Royal Government of Cambodia officials have made slow but
steady progress in evaluating the Montreal Convention.
Emboffs delivered reftel demarche and talking points October
27 to Mr. Soy Samkhan, Undersecretary of State, State
Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA). Mr. Soy expressed
interest in reviewing the Montreal Convention to compare the
pros and cons against the Warsaw Convention, but added that
they would first need to translate the Montreal Convention
into Khmer. He also indicated that he would seek
clarification regarding the necessary legal steps for
ratification.

2. (SBU) Emboff again raised the prospects for ratification
during a December 9 meeting with Chea Aun, Director General
of the SSCA. Mr. Chea recognized the benefits of the
Montreal Convention over the Warsaw Convention, but stated
that the SSCA was still in the process of conducting a
thorough review.

3. (SBU) Mr. Soy stated on December 24 that he expects the
translation of the Convention to be completed by mid-January,
and then the SSCA will make a final decision on whether to
recommend ratification. According to the Director of the Air
Transport Department, the Director General has urged the SSCA
to speed up their review. We will report the SSCA's final
decision and recommendation in septel.
RODLEY

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