APSARA Authority signs two MoUs with France and Japan
AKP Siem Reap, December 16, 2022—


APSARA National Authority signs two MoUs with France and Japan for sustainable conservation and development of Angkor Resort, at the 29th Plenary Session of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of Historic Site of Angkor (ICC/Angkor)-Sambo Prei Kuk, held in Siem Reap provincial city on Dec. 16, 2022.
- AKP

Japan-funded UNESCO Project for ‘Safeguarding of the Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom, Phase VI’
AKP Phnom Penh, December 21, 2022 --

To preserve the value of the Angkor World Heritage site, the UNESCO-Japan Funds-in-Trust project ‘Safeguarding of the Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom, Phase VI’ was initiated in 2022 with the financial assistance of US$1,162,780 from the Government of Japan, according to UNESCO Cambodia’s press release issued on Dec. 20.

To officially mark the project commencement and long-lasting collaboration between the Governments of Cambodia and Japan, Waseda University, and UNESCO, a signing ceremony of the project was organised during the 29th Plenary Session of the ICC Angkor-Sambor Krei Kuk at in Siem Reap.

H.E. Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, H.E. Dr. Hang Peou, the Director General of the National Authority of APSARA, H.E. Mr. Mikami Masahiro, Ambassador of Japan in Cambodia, Mr. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, and Dr. Takeshi Nakagawa, Professor Emeritus of Waseda University attended the ceremony.

The phase VI project focuses onthe stabilisation of the Central Tower and conservation of the outer and inner gallery bas-reliefs, the landscape improvement of the East Façade of Bayon Temple.

It also continues to reinforce the capacities of APSARA workers in heritage conservation and management.

H.E. Kim Sothin, the Deputy Director General of APSARA, thanked Japan for its support and Waseda University and UNESCO for their close collaboration in the work.

Mr. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, appreciated scientific knowledge accumulated and the best heritage conservation techniques applied to the work at the Bayon Temple.

Mr. Hideto Nakajima, Director of the Multilateral Cultural Cooperation Division of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that the joint international cooperation model should be promoted and applied in other parts of the world for cultural heritage conservation. 

By Phal Sophanith
AKP

French School of Asian Studies Donates Artifacts to APSARA National Authority
AKP Phnom Penh, July 20, 2023 --

The French School of Asian Studies or The École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO), a partner of the APSARA National Authority in the conservation and research work at the Angkor site, has handed over 31 boxes of artifact fragments including one Buddha statue, and one Bai Sema to the APSARA National Authority for preservation, research, and inventory.

The handover ceremony took place in Siem Reap provincial city on July 20, according to a news release of the APSARA National Authority.

Tin Tina, Deputy Director of the Department of Research, Training, and Communication, said that all the donated artifacts had been found by excavation at some research sites in Angkor, such as Kouk Ta Siem, Boeung Don Pa, Ung Mong, Baphuon and Prey Moni.

He added that these items comprise firstly, 27 boxes of ceramics from the Baphuon Temple, including hard pottery, fragile pottery belonging to Khmer as well as Chinese, Siamese, and Vietnamese ceramics; second, two boxes of sandstone pieces from Kok Ta Siam; third, there are two boxes of sandstone pieces from Boeung Don Pa, Kork Ta Siam, and the Ung Mong temple; and fourth, one Buddha statue from Ung Mong Temple and one Bai Sema from Prey Monti Temple.

After receiving all these items, he continued, the APSARA National Authority’s experts will prepare for the preservation in a technical manner, and the authority will organise a non-permanent exhibition in the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum to display to the national and international tourists to study and explore Cambodian art.

This is the third time that the French School of Asian Studies has handed over archeological artifacts from excavations at some research sites and temple restoration sites to the APSARA National Authority.

By C. Nika
AKP

NKD

Germany boosts Cambodia's stone conservation efforts
Ry Sochan | Publication date 22 July 2023 | 10:00 ICT

The APSARA National Authority (ANA) has announced a forthcoming boost in Cambodian experts in conservation of ancient temples. This comes following a two-year training course, due to conclude by mid-2024, provided to 20 ANA officials by Germany.

The ANA press release mentioned the efforts of experts from Germany's development agency GIZ in training the 20 Cambodian candidates. The trainees are to become specialists in preserving ancient stones at the Angkor site in Siem Reap province.

Helen Jacobsen, a German trainer, shared during a field visit that she has been teaching Cambodian trainees how to clean, neutralise salt and strengthen ancient stones.

Jacobsen informed ANA that the course includes vital skills such as water-based stone cleaning and chemical washing. The course comprises 13 separate programmes. So far, participants have completed seven, working tirelessly for over a year.

A statement from GIZ anticipates that by mid-2024, the second round of stone conservation training should conclude, resulting in an increased number of Cambodian conservationists.

Rik Reth, technical officer of the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the two-year course is a collaborative effort between GIZ and his department.
https://phnompenhpost.com/national/germ ... on-efforts

China Appreciated for Supporting Cambodia's Ancient Temple Restoration
AKP Phnom Penh, September 01, 2023 --
China has made significant contributions to restoring ancient temples in Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park, a world's most attractive tourist destination.

Mr. Yun Linne, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap province made the note when addressing the event of an ancient artefact conservation understanding exchange between Siem Reap and China's Yunnan province on Aug. 30 in Siem Reap province.

The deputy governor highly valued the special event with a meaningful theme of 'Exchange with Eyes and Smiles'.

According to Mr. Yun Linne, China has been one of the first countries to lend a helping hand to protect Cambodian temples since 1998.

So far, China's archaeologists have joined in the restoration of Chau Say Tevoda, Takeo, and Phimean Akas temples.
- AKP