Speech of H.E. Dr. SokAn, Deputy Prime Minister Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and the President of APSARA Authority
“The Ceremony for the Completion of the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Road (or Korean Ring Road Construction Phase II) in Cambodia”
Cooperation between APSARA Authority and KOICA
Siem Reap, 15th December 2012
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· Venerable Monks,
· His Excellency Park Dae Won, President of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
· His Excellency SouPhirin, Advisor to SamdechAkkakMohaSenaPadeiTecho Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of theKingdom of Cambodia and the Governor of Siem Reap
· Dr. Shin EuiCheol, Representative of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Cambodia
· His Excellency Bun Narith, Director General of the APSARA Authority
· KOICA Delegations, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today I am delighted and honored to participate in “The Ceremony for the Completion of the Cambodia-Korea Friendship
Road (or Korean Ring Road Construction Phase II) in Cambodia” with all Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies andGentlemen, this project is under the cooperation between APSARA Authority and KOICA within 3 years since 2010 until now.
KOICA has supported Korean Ring Road Construction project with grant aid of 17.4 Million USD, included 5.9 Million USD for theKorean Ring Road Construction Phase I and 11.5 Million USD for the Ring Road Construction Phase II, and will cooperate thefollow-up project “Korean Ring Road Construction Phase 3” in the early next year.
I would like to express my warm greeting to His Excellency Park Dae Won, President of Korea International CooperationAgency (KOICA) and all KOICA delegations for spending precious times to visit Cambodia and to participate in today ceremony.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All beloved people and students,
In order to preserve the eternity of Angkor Wat area, APSARA Authority has a very huge responsibility to conserve, tomaintain and to protect the policy of “Conservation for Development and Development for Conservation”, in this meaning,APSARA Authority’s responsibility is not only the conservation of the world heritage temples and the protection of Cambodianculture, but also has responsibilities to develop the physical infrastructure in Angkor area in order to support tourism developmentplan and the to increase the local economic growth by saving the time and fees of transportation also.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All beloved people and students,
Since 1992 Angkor Park became the world facing dangerous heritage, and then on 2004 until now the Angkor Park hasbecame the world heritage with the cooperation between APSARA and international organizations. Recently, APSARA Authorityhas achieved many achievements such as, the success of the antiquities stealing prevention in Angkor Wat temple, repairing ,conservation and protection the erosion of the temple, also the environment improvement of area around the temples,reconstruction the ancient hydraulicsystem for flood prevention and optimum use of water resource. Especially, APSARAAuthority just successfully achieved new project “Cambodia-Korea Friendship Road (or Korean Ring Road ConstructionPhase II) Construction” which is ready to use from today on.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All beloved people and students,
The main purpose of Korean Ring Road construction is providing easing to disperse heavy trucktrafficking from area nearbytemple and protect cultural heritage from destruction and pollution that being caused by those trafficking. Following 19th AngkorICC (The International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor)meeting from 24 to 25 November, seeing some sections of Korean Ring Road that spread from beginning point to the northernportionis inthe protection zone 1, there are some recommendations aim to renovate this road into the road that used only for transportation of residentwho are living along the road and tourist van only. Again, in order to disperse heavy truck from the protection zone 1,on behalf of Cambodian government, Once again I would like to suggest to government of republic of Korea through H.E. ParkDea Won, President of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) consider the ability and continually provide the supportto construct the road to disperse hard trafficking from area nearby the templeby rehabilitation the two existing laterite road:
- First Road: Length=17.2 km spread from the west of Korean Ring Road Phase II (northern portion) until intersection of national roadNumber 6.
- Second Road: Length=7.5 km spread from the east of Korean Ring Road Phase II (northern portion) until intersection of national roadnumber 67.
So, after finished these 2 mentioned road construction, we will have a full Angkor Northern Bypass Road.
Again, following H.E. Park Dea Won, on behalf of government and citizen of Cambodia, I am grateful for Koreagovernment through KOICA has provided support to construct Cambodia-Korea friendship Road as well as other roadconstruction project and continue to implement in upcoming time. In this occasion, I appreciate to Dr. Shin EuiCheol,Representative of KOICA Cambodia and all KOICA Cambodia office staff also.
Mr. Kim Won Tae, Mr. Choi Hyeok Jin, specialist from Korea Expressway Corporation, Mr. Yoo Won Jae, specialist ofSDAG Construction Co.,Ltd who three of them construct this road with high responsibly and train Cambodian specialists. I also appreciateto leader, officer and staff of APSARA Authority who collaborate well until getting tremendous achievement.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All beloved people and students,
Today altogether we are proud seeing historical achievement for mission completeness and an international cooperationunder the grant aid of republic of Korea who construct the Cambodia-Korea friendship road.
I believe that experience and knowledge that are coming from this project implementation will play a key role not only asexperience for Cambodian who directly participated on this construction but also as experience and foundation knowledge forAPSARA authority to implement another construction project throughout Angkor area.
Finally, I wish well for Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen have good health and get the fourBuddha blessing such Age, Wealth, Health, and Strength and would like to announce to close construction site of Cambodia-Korea friendship road (Korea Ring Road Construction Phase II) from now on.
-Thank you-