The Hague, 26 March 1999
The Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers has the honor to inform the national and international public that Cambodia had ratified the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict on April 4, 1962. And on September 17, 2013, Cambodia ratified the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Then, Cambodia deposited its instrument of ratification with the Director-General of UNESCO on October 17, 2013. This Protocol enters into force for Cambodia three months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification, that is to say on December 17, 2013.
Under Article 24 of the Second Protocol, the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is hereby established. It shall be composed of twelve Parties which shall be elected by the Meeting of the Parties. Therefore, on October 23, 2013, the Royal Government of Cambodia decided to present its candidature to the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. And the Election of the six new Committee Members was held on December 17, 2013 during the 5th Meeting of the States Parties to the Second Protocol in Paris. As it turned out, the newly-elected Committee Members are: Cambodia, Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Greece and Mali for the term of four years (2013-2017). And the rest of the Committee whose term will continue until 2015 are: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Croatia, El Salvador, Japan and the Netherlands.
It is worthy to note that the main Functions of the Committee, inter alia are to grant, suspend or cancel enhanced protection for cultural property and to establish, maintain and promote the List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection, under Article 10 of the 2nd Protocol and to monitor and supervise the implementation of this Protocol and promote the identification of cultural property.
The successful Election of Cambodia to the Committee is the result of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen-led-Government’s right decision to invite the World Heritage Committee to host its 37th Session in Cambodia. All the delegates could appreciate the warm hospitality and sympathetic behavior of our officials, volunteered students and people in the first place. Last but not least, they also enjoyed the richness of Cambodian culture including the traditional performance and Angkor site. And Cambodia’s richness in culture both tangible and intangible is another element for positive consideration by other States Parties in such a way that Cambodia can play an important role and make a major contribution to the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict.
Phnom Penh, 19 December, 2013