The meeting of the ICC-Angkor committee in Siem Reap province concluded with results on conservation, research and sustainable development at the Angkor Archaeological Park. APSARA NATIONAL AUTHORITY
The two-day meeting of the ICC-Angkor committee in Siem Reap province concluded on Wednesday with results on conservation, research and sustainable development at the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The Apsara National Authority, which is tasked with managing the park, said the building of roads at the Unesco World Heritage site is to be prioritised.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, ICC-Angkor held the 33rd technical meeting and 26th plenary session, which was led by the French and Japanese co-chairs and attended by more than 300 participants including Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona.
Yith Chandaroth, the deputy director-general of the Apsara Authority, said it planned to build an asphalt road from in front of Suor Prat temple to the Terrace of the Elephants early next year.
“After constructing this road, we will improve the current one in front of the Terrace of the Elephants and put in grass and trees in order to upgrade the Angkor Archaeological Park,” Chandarath said.
He said the planned construction period for the new road was eight months.
Hang Pov, the director-general of the Apsara Authority, said that as well as cooperating with many international partners to repair, conserve and maintain the temples, the management body also had projects planned for next year to improve infrastructure and enhance the park’s beauty.
“The projects include the building of roads at Angkor Thom, the repair of National Road 6 towards Bakong temple and the roads around it, the repair of the road in front of Banteay Kdei temple and the northern part of the Srah Srong pond,” Pov said.
The Apsara Authority also said it had collaborated with France to implement the SDGERA project, which is aimed at reducing flooding during the rainy season.
“SDGERA aims to manage water resources to increase the effectiveness of its use, particularly in the dry season,” the Apsara Authority said.
The project was also geared towards the environment and public welfare, such as the sustainable management of clean and wastewater, energy, rubbish and agriculture for the benefit of the people who live in the Angkor Archaeological Park and related areas.
At the request of the Unesco committee that registered Angkor Wat on the world heritage list, ICC-Angkor was created in 1993 after the 1st Conference on Angkor in the Japanese capital Tokyo.
The creation of ICC mechanisms for Angkor was one of five conditions the Cambodian authorities were required to fulfil in three years, from 1993-1996.
Membership of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) includes 37 countries from five continents and consists of 13 other organisations.
