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August 21, 1997

The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, hereinafter referred to as "PARTIES,affirming their partnerhip in the Association of Southeasr Asian Nations (ASEAN) recognizing the existing friendly relations between them and their people, and desiring to further develop these frierdly relations though the promotion of the military cooperation, have hereby agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1
SCOPE OF COOPERATION

The PARTIES undertake to actively promote military cooperation in accordance with the United Nations Charter and their respective national laws and regulations, as defined in Article 3 of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

ARTICLE 2
ORGANIZATION OF THE COOPERATION

A. Joint Committee

1. In order to supervise, to manage and to effect this MOU, the PARTIES agree tc establish a Joint Comnittee.

2. This Committee is to be co-chaired by a representative of the Ministry of Defense of Thailand and a representative of the Department sf National Defense of the Philippines. This Committee may be assisted by experts from one ministries/departments or organizations in numbers as determined by each PARTY.

3. Under normal circumstance, this Committee will meet alternately once a year, in each respective country, provided, however, that both co-chairmen may agree to convene a meeting at any other time.

4. This Ccmmittee shall, at the conclusion of each meeting, submit a joint report to the Minister/Secretary of Defense of each PARTY.

5. The specific terms of reference for this Committee shall be drafted at its first meeting and submitted for approval to the Minister/Secretary of Defense of each PARTY.

B. Working G roup

1. The joint Committee shall be entitled to establish a Working Group composed of defense and armed forces officials of both countries. The Working Group may also include officials from other ministries and/or agencies of both PARTIES, as may be appropriate or called to by specific conditions.

2. The Working Group shall depend on the Joint Comnittee for its terms of refere and shall receive its directives from the Joint Committee, as well as report the outcome of its work/study to the Committee.

3. The Working Group shall study and examine specific subject matters within the coverage of this MOU.

4. The Heads of the two delegations forming each Working Group shall be appointed by each PARTY who shall appropriately inform the other of this appointment.

ARTICLE 3
MILITARY COOPERATION

The PARTIHS agree .to focus thsir military cooperation on tie folia wing subjects:

A. Military Education and Training

Military Education and Training of military personnel shall whenever possible and appropriate, be based on the concept of reciprocity. The Joint Committee will review the needs and possibilities of each PARTY with respact to various types of training availability or training posibilities in military schools or establishments of each PARTY. In this rsgard, the Committee will jointly establish and propose a five (5) year Training Plan which will be reviewed and revised annually.

B. Exchange of Information

1. Exchange of Information will be effected on the following subjects:

a. Security and defense issues;

b. Operational concepts and doctrines;

c. Community relations;

d. Disaster response activities; and

e. International peacekeeping operations.

2. The mode of such exchange shall be determined by the Joint Committee and may consist, inter alia, of:

a. Exchange of documents such as on Intelligence, Strategic Studies and other scholarly undertakings;

b. Participation as observers in defense-related activities as determined by the PARTY initiating them;

c. Technico-operational conferences; and

d. Reciprocal study tours to observe force development concept of respective countries.

C. Military Exercises

The PARTIES shall insofar as it is realistic, practical and mutually beneficial. Participate in exercises between their Armed Forces. These exercises may be undertaken only insofar as it is constitutonally feasible for both PARTIES.The type, mode and conduct of sucn exircisea shall determined by the Joint Committee.

D. Bilateral Sports-Related Military Cooperation Activities.

The PARTIES shall, insofar as it will promote closer bilateral understanding, engage in friendly sports-related military cooparation activities such as combat shooting, sky-diving and other.

E. Exchange of Visits

The PARTIES shall, insofar as it is mutually beneficia allow or the exchange of visits between their respective defense and armed forces leaders, students and instructors and school staffs, and such other visits that may further enhance bilateral undertaking and cooperation.

ARTICLE 4
GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Security Agreements

1. The PARTIES agree to conclude as early as possisle a separate agreement in order to protect the Security of classified information which will be exchanged between the PARTIES as a result of this MOU;

2. The PARTIES shall respect the level of classification of this MOU accordhg to the national laws and regulations of each Party.

3. The PARTIES shall protect all clasified information resulting from this MOU.

4. The provisions of this security arrangement will remain in force even after the termination or abrogation of this MOU.

B. Entry and Exit Facilitation

Each PARTY shall use its best efforts to facilitate entry into and exit from its territory of personnel and equipment of the other PARTY. Military personnel shall comply with the laws and regulations of the receiving staff concerning immigration, customs and quarantine.

C. Expenditure

Each PARTY shall be responsible for its travel to and from the host country. The expenses for accommodation, meals, domestic transport and conference-related activities shall be borne by the host pary. Each PART shal immediately notify the other if funds available to it are not sufficient to carry out all the provisions of this MOU.

D. Specific Cooperation Agreerrent

In order to assure the full implementation of this MOU, both PARTIES shall conclude complementary agreements on specific subjects as necessary.

E. Text of MOU

In order to facilitate mutual understanding, the English language shall be used as the working language for the activities relating to this MOU.

Settlenent of Disputes

Any differences or disputes in connection with the interpretation and the application of this MOU shall be resolved through mutual consultatio between the PARTIES.

G. Amendments

Any modifications to this MOU may be made at the instance of either PARTY with the concurrence of the other through exhange of diplomatic notes.

H. Validity

1. This MOU shall enter into force when the PARTIES have notified each other in writing that all the legal procedures for its entry into force have been fulfilled.

2. The duration of this MOU shall be five years, renewable automatically for equivalent periods, unless one PARTY notifies the other in writing, at least six months before the end of its duration, of its desire to terminate the MOU.

3. The termination of this MOU shall not affect the validity or duration of any implementing arrangements made under it.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed the present MOU.

Done at Bangkok, Thailand, on this 21st day of August 1997 in two (2) origianal text, in the English Language.