A NGKOR THOM - A $10 million restoration project to make three Angkor monuments "smile again" has begun.

Angkor Wat's north library, the Bayon temple's north library and the Royal Plaza of Angkor Thom will be refurbished in the four-year project sponsored by the Japanese government.

"We have to restore Angkor monuments and make them smile again for the Cambodian people - an important task for rehabilitating and reconstructing this country," said Yokyo Imagawa, Japan's ambassador to Cambodia.

The inauguration of the work was held at Angkor Thom on November 21, presided over by Premier Norodom Ranariddh and attended by foreign officials and diplomats.

Ranariddh expressed his thanks to Japan and other countries involved in restoring Angkor, saying their efforts safeguarded not only the symbol of Cambodia's dignity and honor but also a slice of world heritage.