CAMBODIA STILL CONSIDERING RATIFICATION OF

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