Cabinet to decide on NASA’s U-Tapao request next Tuesday

 

BANGKOK, 21 June 2012 (NNT) – The Cabinet will consider NASA’s request to use U-Tapao Airport on 26 June 2012, the last day before NASA withdraws its project if Thailand does not respond to the request.

Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul held a news conference on Thursday on NASA’s project at U-Tapao Airport, saying that the project had been ongoing since 2011 with cooperation between NASA and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency under the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology. The minister explained that the matter was not on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting this week due to concerns of the National Security Council.

NASA has submitted a letter to the Thai Government via the U.S. embassy in Bangkok, saying that the project would be cancelled if Thailand fails to decide on the matter by 26 June. The letter says there would not be enough time to transfer equipment after next Tuesday while NASA would understand if the Cabinet misses the deadline due to political problems.

Mr. Surapong viewed that NASA’s withdrawal of the project would affect Thailand’s image in the eyes of foreign countries, especially Singapore and Cambodia which had allowed for NASA’s atmospheric study project. The minister stated further that the Council of the State and the ministry’s Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs had already reviewed the project and agreed that it did not need parliamentary consent.