The Cambodian government has welcomed the possible resumption of direct aid, including that for the military, by the U.S. government, local media reported on Tuesday.

"Any assistance is useful for us," the Cambodian Daily quoted Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Minister of Defense Tea Banh as saying, while mentioning the U.S. Senate's proposed budget for the 2007 fiscal year, in which the Foreign Appropriations Subcommittee recommended that the ban on direct funding to the Cambodian government be lifted in exchange for the kingdom's cooperation to carry out the anti-terrorism war.

This might open the way for a proposed 55.8 million U.S. dollars in general aid to be delivered over the year, in addition to the one million U.S. dollars already earmarked for the Cambodian military.

The fund for the Cambodian military were committed in September, but had not yet been received, Tea Banh added.

Meanwhile, government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters that "it would be great if we can resume a normal diplomatic relationship (with the U.S.)."

The U.S. has banned military aid and direct government funding for the Cambodian government since forces loyal to then Second Prime Minister Hun Sen ousted First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh in 1997.

Source: Xinhua