Addressing the event on March 17, PMHun Sen appreciated the cooperation from other countries’ governments and theparties concerned, especially the US and the UK, in preventing the traffickingof cultural assets and returning Cambodian cultural antiquities, as well as UNESCO’sefforts in protecting and maintaining heritage of humankind.
He praised tireless efforts bythe country’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and relevant agencies torepatriate the priceless antiquities of the Cambodian people.
He appealed tomuseums, institutions and antique collectors who have possessed Khmerantiquities to return those ancient objects to Cambodia voluntarily, adding that the return of those artifacts will be highly appreciated.
Recently, 77Cambodian traditional jewelry pieces made of gold and precious metals, largeand small, were brought from the UK to Cambodia on February 17 by a Cambodianteam led by Hun Many, with cooperation from the UK and support from theCambodian Embassy in the UK.
The Ministry ofCulture and Fine Arts has also been reportedly working with the US Governmentand other countries, as well as continuing negotiations with privateinstitutions and collectors, to prepare procedures for claiming and bringingback more Cambodian artifacts./.