PHNOM PENH, Feb. 13,
2012 On Monday, UNESCO signed an agreement with Cambodia to further
support phase 4 for the restoration and safeguarding of Bayon Temple of Angkor
Thom by providing another financial support of $2.5 million from Japan in
addition to Cambodia’s own contribution of $500,000.
His Excellency Dr. Sok
An signed the agreement on safeguarding of the said temple with Mr. Philippe
Delanghe, representative of H.E. Ms. Anne Lemaistre, UNESCO representative in
Cambodia. The Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Masafuni Kuroki, and other
concerned officials witnessed the ceremony.
“Once again, I would
like to express my profound appreciation to the government and the people of
Japan for their close cooperation and ongoing support to safeguard Angkor and
to further Cambodia`s socio-economic development.” Deputy Prime Minister H. E.
Dr. Sok An said.
He also thanks the
United Nations for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
and other stakeholders for their hard work and their contributions to
safeguarding Cambodian World Heritage Sites.
The Bayon Temple is
located at the center of the city of Angkor Thom which is about 1500 meters
(4921 feet) from the south gate. Dedicated to Buddhism, the Temple was built in
the late 12th century and early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII.
The Japanese Trust Fund
for the preservation of cultural property has invested nearly $14 millions
during the first three phases from 1994 to 2011, said the Deputy Prime
Minister.
His Excellency Dr. Sok
An noted that the successful restoration and preservation of Angkor complex and
its sustainable development began since the establishment of the International
Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic
Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) in 1992. More than 60 projects to restore the
temples have been implemented in Siem Reap province, the home of Angkor, with
support from 16 countries and 28 international organizations.
Angkor was first
inscribed in the World Heritage in Danger List in 1992.
The Deputy Prime
Minister also informed the participants that some countries that have completed
their initial restoration projects at the Angkor complex, and actually they
have agreed to restore other temples.
France, which has just
finished a major restoration of the Baphuon, has agreed to restore another
temple -- Mebon built in the 10th Century by King Rajendravarman.
Last year, China agreed
to restore Takeo temple, located east of Angkor Thom. It is one of the earliest
temples, which were built out of sandstone.
India, now restoring Ta
Prum built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th
centuries, announced in June that it will turn to another temple -- Preah Khan
in Kompong Svay, 100 km to the east of Angkor.
Switzerland, through
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is helping Cambodia’s
APSARA Authority to restore Banteay Srei temple. It is a 10th century old
temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and it is located in the area of Angkor.
Last month, Deputy
Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Sok An welcomed the UNESCO Heritage
Management Framework project in Siem Reap, the home of Angkor, as more tourists
are flocking to visit the World Heritage Site.
UNESCO Heritage
Management Framework project includes a map of structural, monumental,
environmental and socio-cultural risks and a tourism management plan to protect
the sites from damages and to further develop the capacity of Apsara Authority,
focusing on training its technical committee and on the implementation of pilot
projects.
APSARA, the National
Authority for Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap,
has been operating since 1995.
UNESCO said last month that
Cambodia’s significant increase in tourist numbers is a potential benefit for
the country, but at the same time “this requires a well managed development” at
Angkor.
His Excellency Dr. Sok
An reiterated on Monday that, in the next couple of months, Cambodia is going
to hold a joint forum—involving UNESCO, APSARA Authority, the Ministry of
Tourism, the Siem Reap provincial administration, local communities, tour
agencies, tour operators, and hotels—to discuss appropriate measures to address
the issue.