Baphoun

France has committed over half a million euros to projects aimed at restoring Baphuon temple in the Angkor temple complex and eliminating counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. According to two agreements – signed by Sun Saphoeun, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and French Ambassador Jean-Francois Desmazieres on Tuesday – France will give €480,000 (US$588,619) for the continued renovation of Baphuon temple and €123,500 for the fight against counterfeit drugs in 2010. Renovation work at the temple began in 1995 with assistance from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the past 15 years has cost around €7.8 million, Desmazieres said in a statement released by the French embassy.