Int'l conference held for conservation of Cambodian Prasat Banteay Chmar

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Second Conference on Conservation Project of Prasat Banteay Chmar (pictured) was jointly organized in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the provincial authority, and the UNESCO, the official news agency AKP reported on Wednesday.

The three-day conference ended Monday was attended by Khim Sarith, secretary of state to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Banteay Meanchey Governor Ung Oeurn, and the representatives of the British and U.S. embassies, and a number of national and foreign historians.

"The entire people in the province, especially those living in the vicinity, supported the conservation project of Prasat Banteay Chmar," said Banteay Meanchey Governor Ung Oeurn, underlining that people are prepared to participate in the conservation activities with a view to list it as one of the World Heritage.

Prasat Banteay Chmar, one of the great ancient Khmer architectures during the reign of King Jayavarman VII (11811218 A.D.), comprises the values of culture, architecture, arts and religion, said Khim Sarith.

He recalled that many ancient temples and historical stations had been damaged by the nature and by human acts of destructions due to the prolonged wars for many years in Cambodia.

Jonh Sandy, the Global Heritage Fund representative, said his organization and the ministry had concluded a MOU, not only for the conservation project of Prasat Banteay Chmar, but also for the professional staff training, the establishment and development of an association of tourism, and particularly the preparation of Prasat Banteay Chmar to be listed in the World Heritage.

Editor: Li