Cambodia celebrates Angkor’s UNESCO status.

MC&D - The Cambodian Press Review

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - Edition 1,189

Cambodia celebrates Angkor’s UNESCO status.

Cambodia and UNESCO yesterday jointly inaugurated newly installed flags that showcase the World Heritage Site status of the world famous Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap. The flags flew for the first time 16 years after the temple was first inscribed on the UNESCO list, local media reports today.

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An noted at the event that the ancient sanctuary was registered on the world heritage list in 1992, when it was listed as ‘at risk’. However, the UNESCO committee later removed the label in 2004 when after Cambodian government had made improvements in the conservation, the development and the management of the site, reports Rasmei Kampuchea.

Françoise Rivière, UNESCO’s director-general for culture, praised the Cambodian efforts to protect and develop the ancient temple, congratulating the Kingdom on showcasing its World Heritage Site status.

Presiding over the event, Prime Minister Hun expressed hope that the iconic temple would attract more tourists to Cambodia at a time of falling visitor numbers, helping to mobilize funds for development and conservation work, writes Kampuchea Thmey.

“The party we celebrate at this time is an extra historical action to attract the whole world to recognize the arts and culture of our Khmer ancestors, and to gain operational financing and technical help for the priority actions, including conservation, development and further dissemination,” the Khmer-language newspaper quotes him as saying.

More contentiously, Hun Sen announced that Cambodia will hold another similar event at the northern Preah Vihear temple, according to Koh Santepheap. The ancient temple, parts of which are contemporary with Angkor Wat, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July, 2008, much to the chagrin of Thai nationalists who mistakenly claim the temple as Thai property.

“e are currently waiting for another splendid event at Preah Vihear temple, which has been registered recently as a World Heritage [Site],” the premier said, according to local media NGO The Cambodia Daily. “We will celebrate tremendously in accordance with its wonderful value.”