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SIEM REAP, 13 September 2012: The Cambodia government signed an agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, late last week to assist in safeguarding Angkor Wat, the country’s most prestigious World Heritage site.
The deal was inked between Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, Sok An and UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, Anne Lemaistre.
Rome University’s Professor, Valter Maria Santoro, who heads the Italian technical mission for stone consolidation in the temple, said the two-year project will focus on the restoration of a moat embankment at Angkor Wat.
Mr Sok An said the second phase project will cost US$250,000 including US$200,000 from the Italian government and US$50,000 from the Cambodian government.
“The Italian government, through UNESCO, has been involved in helping to safeguard Angkor Wat Temple since 1994…. the continuous support signifies a further cooperation between Cambodia, UNESCO and Italy.”
Currently, Cambodia has been collaborating with 14 countries and 28 international teams who are handling 60 different projects to preserve and restore the temple.
The Angkor archeological park is Cambodia’s most important cultural tourism attraction, located 315 km from the capital Phnom Penh.
The temple was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.
From January to June this year, 1.06 million international tourists visited the temple, with South Korea, Vietnam and China topping the suppliers’ list. There were 61,340 Thai tourists, a 201% increase over the same period.
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