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Defense Ministry to Pay Tuition Fees for Cambodian Cadets in U.S

Phnom Penh: Cambodia’s Defense Ministry says it will cover the costs for six young cadets who are attending military academies in the United States. The six were facing the prospect of having to abandon their studies this week, when the U.S. suddenly decided to revoke all previously approved tuition waivers for Cambodian cadets.

In a statement released late on Friday night, the Ministry says, “Noting the difficulties encountered by the 6 Cambodian cadets due to the termination of U.S. obligations in providing tuition waivers for them, and in the spirit of responsibility for the future and for the benefit of the Cambodian cadets, the Royal Government of Cambodia will be accountable for the tuition payment for the six, until they successfully finish their studies. The Ministry of National Defense will also communicate with all relevant U.S. agencies regarding this arrangement.”

The six cadets are studying at four US military academies, including the prestigious West Point. On Thursday they were informed that Cambodia had lost eligibility for the US military service academy programme.

According to the spokesman for the U.S Embassy in Phnom Penh, Mr. Arend Zwartjes, funding for the Cambodian cadets had been withdrawn “following Cambodia’s curtailment of cooperation in several areas of traditional bilateral military-military engagement.”

This “curtailment of engagement” is thought to stem from the recent incident at Ream Naval Base, where an approved visit by an embassy official was cut short because the official had not been granted what was described as “full access”.


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