Cambodia to nominate Sambor Prei Kuk temple for world heritage

 

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will file a request to the UNESCO to inscribe the 7th century Sambor Prei Kuk temple on its world heritage list, a senior government official said Thursday.

"The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is about to finish the preparation of documents for the Sambor Prei Kuk temple soon," Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, president of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said during a cultural conference. "When completed, the documents will be sent to the UNESCO to list the temple as a world heritage site."

Built by King Isanavarman I, Sambor Prei Kuk is the most important religious center of the pre-Angkorian era and is located in a quiet patch of forest in Kampong Thom province, about 193 km north of capital Phnom Penh.

Cambodia currently has two tangible cultural properties inscribed on the UNESCO's prestigious world heritage list. One is the 12th century Angkor Wat Temple listed in 1992 and the other is the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple included in 2008.  

"Based on previous success, national prestige, and good relations with UNESCO, Cambodia hopes that the Sambor Prei Kuk temple will be successfully listed as a world heritage site in the future," Sok An said.