AKP Phnom Penh, November 28, 2025 --

Cambodia has officially lodged a complaint with the Director-General of UNESCO regarding the construction of a replica of its revered Angkor Wat Temple by a neighbouring country, calling for an urgent examination of international legal mechanisms to address the contentious issue.

H.E. Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, raised the significant concern during a working meeting with newly elected UNESCO Director-General H.E. Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz in Paris on Nov. 26.

The Minister specifically urged the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and its legal advisory bodies to study pertinent legal instruments under the framework of the 1970 and 1972 World Heritage Conventions. The goal, she stated, is to establish measures that would prevent actions deemed to potentially "undermine the outstanding universal value" of Angkor Wat, which is a recognised World Heritage site.

During the meeting, Dr. Sackona also highlighted the extensive and successful cooperation between Cambodia and UNESCO, citing established international coordination bodies like the ICC-Angkor, which oversees conservation efforts for the temples of Angkor, Sambor Prei Kuk, and Preah Vihear. She reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to UNESCO's principles and collaboration on the protection of its rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Furthermore, the minister requested that UNESCO dispatch independent experts to conduct an on-site assessment of the damage inflicted on the Preah Vihear Temple, another World Heritage site, resulting from past border clashes.

Director-General El-Enany welcomed the Cambodian delegation and praised the country for its long history of effective cooperation with the organisation. He reiterated UNESCO’s intention to strengthen this partnership further and assured the Minister that due consideration would be given to the Kingdom’s concerns regarding the temple replica.

By K. Rithy Reak