Twenty-five years ago, the World Heritage Committee, held in Santa Fe, United States of America, decided, on 14 December 1992, to inscribe ANGKOR the historic, archaeological and cultural site on the prestigious UNESCO List of World Heritage.
This inscription is first and foremost recognition of ANGKOR’s Outstanding Universal Value, in terms of civilization, culture, art and cultural interferences.
This anniversary recalls for Cambodians and the international community the importance of safeguarding and protecting ANGKOR, not only as a national heritage jewel, but also because ANGKOR is a cultural property of humanity as a whole.
ANGKOR is nowadays a universal symbol of cultural heritage.
The International Coordination Committee, the famous ICC, decided at TOKYO for a period of 10 years, confirmed and renewed in PARIS for a second period of 10 years, finally reconfirmed and extended in SIEM REAP for a third period of 10 years, this ICC hence, now serves as a model in the world.
On the 8th of December, the Union of the Youth Federations of Cambodia in collaboration with the APSARA National Authority and related stakeholders in Siem Reap have organized an amazing and historical photo souvenir gathering about 3000 people as a Big Cambodian Family.
The ceremony was held in front of Angkor Wat temple, on the 14th of December. It was presided by Her Excellency MEM SAM An, Deputy Prime Minister, with the presence of Her Excellency the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, President of the APSARA National Authority, Dr PHOEURNG Sackona, His Excellency Dr SUM Map, Director General of APSARA National Authority, His Excellency HUN Many, President of the Union of the Youth Federations of Cambodia, Mrs Anne Lemaitre Unesco Representative, ICC experts and Standing Secretariat of the ICC-Angkor.
This ceremony, where many officials from the APSARA National Authority and the local government participated, offered a huge show to the local people, but also to the whole Nation thanks to a television live broadcast. The entertainment was composed of several traditional Cambodian dances, followed by the exclusive preview of the making-off of the historical photo souvenir, and ended by a music band performance.
