The Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany, M. Lerke recently

signed a contract for the amount of U.S. $60,000-for the restoration of the Throne

Hall at the Royal Palace. Prince Sihanouk's special representative for Palace affairs,

the Vice Prime Minister Kong Som Ol signed for the Cambodian side. The ceremony took

place in the presence of Minister of State Van Molyvann at the Royal Palace.

The project was initiated by His Royal Highness Prince Ranariddh on the occasion

of his visit to Germany in December 1991 and is the first German-Cambodian project

on the preservation of Cambodian cultural heritage.

Prince Sihanouk, the Royal Palace and UNESCO gave their approval and support for

this project concerning the restoration of the roof of the Throne Hall.

The restoration works will be conducted by local experts.

The Throne Hall of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh has layered tile roofs of traditional

style and is topped by a central tower said to be inspired by the Bayon temple of

Angkor.

The typical cross section of the building shows three distinguished layers of roofs,

all covered by glazed tiles: the high-pitched main roof above the central nave; and

two lower and much less inclined roofs above the side naves on the outer arcade.

It is these latter roofs which are leaking.

The German contribution is earmarked for the repair of this part of the roof.