(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona led the Cambodian delegation to pay a courtesy call and hold a working discussion with Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, Director General of UNESCO on 26 November 2025, at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

During the meeting, the minister expressed congratulations to Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz on his election as Director General of this important organization by the 43rd Session of the General Conference of UNESCO. She also reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment, as a Member State, to continued cooperation, programme implementation, and adherence to UNESCO’s core principles.

She highlighted that the cooperation between Cambodia and UNESCO has been highly successful, particularly in the framework of the ICC-Angkor mechanism, as well as initiatives related to Sambor Prei Kuk and Preah Vihear, and broader collaboration on the protection, promotion, and preservation of both tangible and intangible world heritage.

The minister also raised Cambodia’s concerns regarding the construction of a replica of Angkor Wat by a neighboring country, urging the World Heritage Centre and UNESCO’s Legal Affairs Division to examine appropriate legal mechanisms under the spirit of the 1970 and 1972 Conventions to address this issue.

In addition, Minister Phoeurng Sackona discussed the possibility of sending UNESCO experts to conduct an independent, on-site assessment of the damage sustained by the Preah Vihear Temple due to past border clashes.

Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz warmly welcomed the Minister’s visit and praised Cambodia for its strong cooperation as a Member State. He reiterated his commitment to further strengthening collaboration with Cambodia and reviewing the issues of concern raised during the meeting.
=FRESH NEWS