Jan 2 Agence Khmer de Press reported: Finnish Minister for Environment and

Minister of International Development Cooperation Pekka Haa Vista, signed an agreement

on a land title survey with Co-Ministers of the Council of Ministers Sok An and Veng

Sereyvuth on Dec 30. Under the agreement Finland agreed to provide about $1 million

for the project.

Jan 5 A Bangkok-based publishing company, run by veteran Cambodia hand

and crack photographer Roland Neveu announced that a series of pocket guide books,

of which one on Cambodia has been released, will be completed in coming months. The

series entitled Horizons Travel Guides will focus on Southeast Asian destinations,

including Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. The guide books are available at a

variety of outlets around Asia. Neveu said, "At $12 per copy, the books are

a steal."

Jan 6. Agence Khmer de Press reported: A religious ceremony marking the

53th birthday anniversary of First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh was held at Funcinpec

headquarters in Phnom Penh on

Jan 2. Senior CPP official Sar Kheng, attended the ceremony.

Jan 8. Agence Khmer de Press reported: Norway and the European Commission

donated $13,000 and $12,000 for the rehabilitation of schools effected by floods

in response to an appeal from the Ministry of Education.

Jan 10. Agence Khmer de Press reported: A workshop on participation in

the development of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Siam was held in Phnom Penh. Environment

Minister Mok Mareth and Phiphar Tangsubgul, Director of SEAPOL, attended the two-day

workshop.

Jan14. Agence Khmer de Press reported: Eight US congressmen, concerned

about the human rights situation and press freedoms flew to Cambodia to discuss the

matter. The US delegation led by John Porter was supposed to meet human rights leaders,

the co-prime ministers, Chairman of the National Assembly Chea Sim, and Foreign Minister

Ung Hout, during the three-day visit.

Jan 14. According to an EU press release, the European Commission-through

its humanitarian Office (ECHO)-will support several intiatives benefiting victims

of conflicts and the populations affected by recent floods in Cambodia. This new

contribution amounts to 2,200,000 ECU.

The grant includes: ECU 250,000 provided to Action Contre la Faim for the reintegration

of internally displaced persons in the province of Banteay Meanchey; ECU940,000 to

be be used by three European NGOs - Action Contre la Faim, Handicap International,

Action Nord-Sud- to improve access to isolated communities and health and sanitation

among some 123,000 former refugees and internally displaced persons who have had

only limited access to assistance so far. Beneficiaries are located in the provinces

of Battambang, Banteay Meachey, and Preah Vihear; ECU560,000 to increase EC funding

of demining operations in the province of Kampong Thom; ECU450,000 to support the

work of Action Contre la Faim and Action Nord Sud in the provinces of Kampong Cham,

Banteay Meanchey and Battambang for the provision of assistance to victims of floods.

Since the signature of the Paris Agreement on 23 October 1991, the European Commission's

assistance to Cambodia amounts to some ECU166 million (approx. US$207 million). This

amount comes in addition to bilateral contribution from Member States of the European

Union.