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Published on February 11, 2008

Air Force commander ACM Chalit Pukphasuk could not attend because he is travelling to Sweden to sign a Bt19-billion contract to buy six Grippen jet fighters, Air Force deputy spokesman Group Captain Monthon Satchukorn said.

Sweden will start delivering the jets in early 2011.

Monthon said Samak agreed to the purchase and acknowledged Chalit's trip.

"No one has said that this government wants to change anything in the purchase plan. We do not lose anything and the agreement is at government level,'' he said.

Chalit assigned Air Force deputy commander ACM Paisal Sitabutr to attend the meeting on his behalf.

The Air Force chief succeeded General Sonthi Boonyaratglin as chairman of the Council for National Security, which ceased to exist recently.

Supreme Commander General Bunsang Niampradit will also not attend. He left for the Middle East yesterday to promote bilateral relations.

All high-ranking military officials from the Council for National Security except these two will attend. Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paojinda said he would also attend the meeting.

The Nation