Army chief:Use of U-tapao airport by NASA will not affect Thai sovereignty

BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) - Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha insisted on Friday that the use of U-tapao military airport in Thailand's eastern Chonburi Province for climate studies, as requested by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will not affect the Thai sovereignty. General Prayuth acknowledged that the Thai government is to work out a deal with the United States based on fairness, assuring, however, that the Thai administration and concerned security authorities will handle the matter carefully to protect the Thai sovereignty. General Prayuth asked opponents to adhere to reasons and careful criticisms to protect Thailand's reputation. Regarding his meeting with visiting Commander of the Second Artillery Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Jing Zhiyan, scheduled for Friday afternoon, the Thai army-commander-in-chief acknowledged that the meeting has been set for months and has nothing to do with the NASA issue concerning the U-tapao Airport. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit confirmed that the Thai Cabinet will reach a conclusion on the NASA request next week, asking opponents not to be pessimistic or politicize the issue but to support national interest from the NASA project.(TNA)