Wednesday, August 23, 2006

VN can supply Cambodia with hi-tech satellite alert data but couldn't resolve land and maritme border demarcation via lower-tech GPS system

Vietnam to supply Cambodia with Cospas-Sarsat alert data
23/08/2006

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam is ready to provide Cambodia with alert data of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue (Cospas-Sarsat), said Hoang Tat Thang, deputy head of the Vietnamese Maritime Department during the talks on the matter between delegations of Vietnam's Maritime Department and Cambodia's Civil Aviation Department in Phnom Penh from Aug. 17-21.

The two sides also exchanged viewpoints on the formation of the Vietnam Mission Control Centre under Cospas-Sarsat Agreement (VNMCC).

At the talks, Vietnam said that as a member of Cospass-Sarst System, it had invested in setting up a system of local users' terminals for the VNMCC (VNLUT/MCC) which had been recognised by Cospas-Sarsat as having the technical capacity to join the international Cospas-Sarsat System and was being allowed to operate on a test basis from August 2005.

Under guidance from the Cospas-Sarsat System, Vietnam has defined the zone of responsibility and has held talks on the demarcation of the VNMCC service area with the MCCs of nearby countries, namely China and Singapore, so that Cospas-Sarsat could announce the official operation of the VNLUT/MCC system.

On the basis of the technical capacity of the VNLUT/MCC system as well as its geographical character and the traditional cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, Vietnam is now able to receive, process and distribute the alert data taken in by the VNLUT/MCC to responsible agencies in Cambodia in stead of the SILUT/MCC in Singapore.

The Cambodian delegation expressed its agreement and praised Vietnam for its ability to replace Singapore in receiving, processing and distributing Cospas-Sarsat alert data to Cambodia's rescue agencies. The Cambodian delegation said it would inform authorized agencies in Cambodia about the matter and would also officially inform the Vietnamese side, Singapore and Cospas-Sarsat as soon as possible.

Cambodia has proposed that Vietnam support it in rescue work. The Vietnamese side has said it will convey the proposal to the Vietnamese National Rescue Committee.

Minutes on cooperation in these matters was signed by Hoang Tat Thang and Chia An, head of the Cambodian Civil Aviation Department of Cambodia at the end of the talks.

(Source: VNA)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The first time I read this article and I thought that the Vietcong was generous and helpful but then again it is the Vietcong trickery with hidden face as usual!

I just hope the Vietcong don't slap Cambodian government with a large fee for using the "alert data of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue (Cospas-Sarsat)" How many satellite does the Vietcong has any way? American has over dozen satellites circle planet 24 hours aday! Cambodian are better off buying Satellite data imaging from the U.S. government to solve mother nature disaster than buying from the Vietcong and don't you think that the combine of dozen of satellite data imaging better than one Vietcong satellite?

The Vietcong learn to lead and the stupid Cambodian officials learn to follow! Hey! You just never know the Vietcong might use the satellite to track down anti-Vietcong in Cambodia. The possibility is endless.