980211/ bangkok post/ pentagon incr

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

February 11, 1998


                                     



                                 MILITARY

              Pentagon increases
              training assistance
              by 25 per cent 

              Thailand becomes biggest recipient

              Achara Achayagachart and Wassana Nanuam

              The United States has increased military training aid for
              Thailand by 25 percent to $1.9 billion this year, making the
              kingdom the largest recipient of the programme, US
              Ambassador William Itoh said yesterday.

              The funds for International Military Education and Training
              (Imet) for Thailand are to assist the armed forces in these
              straightened times.

              Mr Itoh said that Washington maintained defence relations with
              Thailand and would help lessen the armed forces' financial
              burden.

              "We look for ways that we can cooperate with Thailand to try to
              meet some of the budgetary problems that the financial crisis
              brings about," he said after meeting Prime Minister Chuan
              Leekpai, who is concurrently defence minister.

              The Pentagon has been running the IMET programme for more
              than 40 years with more than 21,000 Thai military personnel,
              most of them future generals, studying in the US and Americans
              coming to Thailand to train officers.

              Mr Chuan raised concerns about the armed forces' budget
              problems with US Defence Secretary William Perry last month in
              Bangkok, and spoke about the possibility of reducing the
              number of officers to join the programme to save money.

              Mr Chuan said the increase in the US funding was in response to
              a request from Thailand, which cited problems over the
              exchange rate and budget constraints.

              Concerning Thailand's request for the US to help look for a third
              country to buy F/A 18 fighter jets for which Thailand cannot
              afford to pay, Mr Chuan said Mr Itoh told him that the US has
              tried to help but has not yet been able to find a solution.

              Mr Itoh told him another team of US personnel will arrive late
              this month to discuss the matter with the Defence Ministry.

              Normally the armed forces pay travel expenses, but Gen
              Theerawat Pattamanond, director-general of the Office of Policy
              and Planning, said the increase would help cover all expenses.

              A team of American defence experts will return to Bangkok on
              February 28 to resume negotiations with their Thai counterparts
              on the fate of the planes worth over $390 million, Gen
              Theerawat said.

              "We try to reach the conclusion after reviewing all alternatives in
              the next round of talks," he added.

              Mr Chuan and Mr Itoh also discussed the problems of refugees
              and narcotics and a visit to Washington DC next month by the
              prime minister.

                The 1998 joint Thai-US Cobra Gold military exercise to be
              held in Lop Buri and Rayong during May and June will help
              boost tourism, according to Directorate of Civil Affairs head
              Rattana Chalermsanyakorn.

              Lt-Gen Rattana said tourism in many spots, especially Pattaya,
              will boom again due to the annual one-month Cobra Gold
              military exercise because more than 1,000 American troops
              under the operation are expected to stay and travel in Pattaya.

              "This will certainly boost tourism and spending in Pattaya,"
              Lt-Gen Rattana said.

              He said the army will cooperate with the Interior Ministry in
              ensuring safety for the American troops and allowing night spots
              in Pattaya to operate a little beyond the required closing time
              temporarily.




                                     




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