MAYURI MEI LIN
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| Mr Poimboeuf (left) and Mr. Horinouchi will tackle a range of historic site issues. KT/Fabien Mouret |
The International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) will meet tomorrow to discuss how it plans to preserve the Angkor Archaeological Park amid pressures of overpopulation, development and a ticket price hike. French ambassador Jean-Claude Poimboeuf and Japanese ambassador Hidehisa Horinouchi spoke to Khmer Times’ Mayuri Mei Lin about how the two co-chairs plan to tackle these and other emerging issues.
KT: What will be discussed at the upcoming ICC-Angkor meeting?
Mr. Poimboeuf and Mr. Horinouchi: The next ICC-Angkor meeting will be held in Siem Reap on the 24th and the 25th of January and will consist of two sessions, a technical and a plenary. This meeting will be dedicated to the follow up of recommendations concerning conservation, restoration and sustainable development, adopted in 2016. Also, the adoption of new recommendations on the basis of experts’ reports and discussions about next steps to undertake regarding the general development of Angkor on a broad range of issues: ticketing, cooperation between international teams and Cambodian authorities and bodies.
KT: What are the main goals for the ICC-Angkor for the rest of 2017?
Mr. Poimboeuf and Mr. Horinouchi: The June technical session will have to fulfill a mid-term follow-up of the recommendations adopted in January. The ICC-Angkor will continue to pursue a better coordination mechanism on current agenda items (information and know-how sharing, local human resources development, etc).
KT: While the ICC-Angkor does not directly fund projects to preserve and conserve the temple complex, is funding a cause for concern this upcoming year?
Mr. Poimboeuf and Mr. Horinouchi: The ICC-Angkor is not an international organization. It is a forum created at an international conference held in Tokyo, in October 1993, and which convenes on an annual basis. Its main role is to monitor and guarantee the conservation and development of Angkor in close cooperation with the Cambodian authorities. The funding has not been a real issue of concern as more and more countries get involved and interested in conservation and restoration. Over the years, France and Japan have been the main contributors to on-site projects such as Baphuon, Western Mebon, Angkor Thom, Western Causeway and Angkor Wat.
KT: One issue of concern is the shrinking water supply coupled with the growing population there. How does ICC-Angkor plan to address this issue to ensure that residents and visitors there have adequate access to water?
Mr. Poimboeuf and Mr. Horinouchi: During the technical session on the 24th of January, two reports addressing this issue will be presented and discussed. The first report will be presented by Dr. Hang Peou, deputy director general of APSARA which will mention the outlines of the PAAGERA project (pilot project on water, sanitation and solid waste). The second will be presented by Mrs. Pooja Kapoor, head of business development, water and power consultancy services (India) who will raise the issue of the development of the Siem Reap river basin. The ICC-Angkor will adopt recommendations in order to address water supply, underground water level and growing tourism issues.
KT: Ticket sales revenue saw a 4.2 percent increase last year which could indicate even more tourists coming to the archaeological park this year. How does ICC-Angkor plan to offset or cope with the effects of the increased foot traffic and visitors to the archaeological park?
Mr. Poimboeuf and Mr. Horinouchi: The plenary session on the 25th will raise the issue of the Angkor TMP (Tourism Management Plan) and different pending issues concerning access to temples, facilities, roads and itineraries in Angkor will be addressed. Efforts to avoid concentration of visitors on several sites are also undertaken.
KT: The Angkor Institute announced last year that it will almost double ticket prices for foreign visitors, from $20 to $37 come February 1. The tourism sector has expressed concern over the move as it could deter foreign tourists. How do you address these concerns?
Mr. Poimboeuf: As someone with a large experience in visiting museums and monuments around the world, I personally consider that the prices of tickets to visit Angkor, a World Heritage-listed site, are reasonable even after the doubling which will become effective in February. A lot of World Heritage sites worldwide have entry fees ranging from $30 up to $70 or more. One has to keep in mind the considerable size of the site and the number of monuments the ticket gives access to.
Mr. Horinouchi: We have not seen an official decision by the Royal Government of Cambodia on the ticketing of Angkor historical site. We wait for hearing the clarification of the RGC [Royal Government of Cambodia] on the new ticketing system and its long-term financial plan in the upcoming ICC-Angkor.
KT: A constant challenge with heritage sites like the Angkor Archaeological Park is finding a balance between sufficient development to sustain tourism efforts without compromising on the cultural values of the site. How does ICC-Angkor plan to walk this fine line?
Mr. Poimboeuf: You are right – this is a fine line to walk, especially in the case of Angkor which is at the same time a religious and cultural site, an area with a significant population and a tourist destination. As you know, once a site is on the World Heritage list, it is the responsibility of UNESCO, which is by the way in charge of the ICC-Angkor secretariat, to make sure that the conditions needed to stay on the list are consistently met. The merit of the ICC-Angkor is precisely to provide a forum for discussion on any development between all stakeholders.
Mr. Horinouchi: Tourism management is one of the important topics for the ICC-Angkor. Though we welcome the increase in the number of tourists at the Angkor site, it causes several problems, such as congestion by concentration of tourists at certain monuments at certain time, and the need to ensure visitors to observe the code of conduct to maintain cleanliness and safety of tourism facilities. ICC Angkor will continue to discuss these issues.
KT: Research efforts at Angkor Wat thus far have mostly been aboveground, with little excavation efforts. Does ICC-Angkor plan to encourage for research endeavors at the Angkor Archeological Park?
Mr. Poimboeuf: The fact is that, for a long time, the focus has been on studying the temples, their architecture, the remaining statues and frescoes, and on restoration works rather than excavating. This approach has produced some spectacular results with the restoration, for example, of the Baphuon, which took more than 15 years to the EFEO (French School of Asian Studies) to complete. EFEO has also been working on a global and comprehensive approach of Angkor Thom and its history, focusing on archeological excavations. I would also like to mention the work done by INRAP, a French body specialized in preventive archeology, on the construction site of the Siem Reap airport: their findings were exhibited last year at the National Museum in Phnom Penh and provided fascinating information on daily life in Angkorian times
Mr. Horinouchi: We understand that a considerable number of researches and excavations have been undertaken so far. Sophia University Mission of Japan discovered 274 Buddha statues at Banteay Kdei through excavations, which have been exhibited at Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum. The Museum was inaugurated in 2007 with the honorable presence of His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.
KT: Does France and Japan plan to encourage its education institutions to look to the Angkor Archaeological Park?
Mr. Poimboeuf: As far as France is concerned, EFEO has been active in Angkor since 1902 and was assigned responsibility for the conservation of the Angkor site in 1907. Due to this very long history and to the expertise of its current scholars, EFEO remains a reference worldwide for the scientific community. A lot of foreign scholars specializing in Angkor have studied in France and used the rich material and documentation gathered over the decades by EFEO. I am glad that the Cambodian Foreign Minister, HE Mr Prak Sokhonn, visited EFEO’s headquarters in Paris last November. He was shown a number of rare documents that are part of the EFEO’s library and collections.
Mr. Horinouchi: Until now, many educational institutions of Japan have been contributing to the conservation and sustainable development of the Angkor historical site. For example, Japan/APSARA Safeguarding Angkor (JASA), led by Waseda University, has worked on the Northern Library of Angkor Wat and Bayon temple, and Sophia University mission has worked on Western Causeway of Angkor Wat.
KT: What sort of initiatives can we expect from ICC-Angkor in its efforts to have the Kulen Mountain included on the World Heritage List ? According to a news report, the Environment Ministry has requested the ICC-Angkor formulate a plan to manage the national park but at the same time, these efforts could result in the relocation of local villagers.
Mr. Poimboeuf: The inclusion on the world heritage list is not a matter for the ICC-Angkor but is within the competence of UNESCO. The Cambodian authorities have to apply officially and respect very precise criteria in order to have any site included on the list. Regarding the villagers, they are on the top of the agenda of both ICC-Angkor works and APSARA Authority which give a growing importance to the sustainable development of Ankgor.
Mr. Horinouchi: We are not aware of such a request from the Ministry.
KT: What are your final thoughts on the Angkor Archaeological Park moving forward?
Mr. Poimboeuf: When the ICC-Angkor was created back in 1993, the main priority was to preserve a site that had suffered from decades of war and neglect. Today, in a peaceful environment and in the context of a fast developing economy, Angkor is seen as a major attraction worldwide. This brings new challenges that the ICC Angkor is in a unique position to tackle since all stakeholders are part of the discussions on the current state and future of the site. This is why the ICC Angkor is considered as an inspiring model for other countries and France is proud to co-chair, along with Japan, such an important tool of international cooperation.
Mr. Horinouchi: As the Angkor Site is at the heart of the pride and unity of Cambodian people, Japanese Government, and many Japanese institutions have been cooperating for its conservation and sustainable development. As a co-chair of ICC-Angkor, we will continue to work with the Cambodian government and relevant partners to address challenges affecting its sustainability and look for the right direction for the future.
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