‘The United States is a committed and reliable partner for protecting the cultural heritage of Cambodia,’ said U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh Chargé d’Affaires Ms. Bridgette Walker who attended the Celebration of Returned Khmer Artifacts held here at the Peace Palace this morning under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.
‘Returning looted artifacts to their rightful home is the right thing to do,’ Ms. Bridgette Walker stressed.
In a press release dated Aug. 22, the U.S. Embassy highlighted the return home of 56 antiquities which were looted from Cambodia during conflict years.
As of today, it continued, the United States government has facilitated the return of over 150 antiquities, including previous returns of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh statue and the 10th century ‘Skanda on a Peacock,” both on display at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
These returns are possible under the bilateral cultural property memorandum of understanding between Cambodia and the
United States, which both countries renewed in August 2023 for an additional five years, said the source, recalling that since signing the first agreement in 2003, the United States has helped train heritage protection professionals, prevented pillaging of antiquities, and facilitated the return of looted artifacts from private collections and galleries throughout the United States.
According to the press release, U.S. cultural cooperation with Cambodia also includes US$6 million in total investment for cultural preservation through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation and other projects. Activities have included restoring the 9th century temples of Phnom Bakheng in Angkor Archaeological Park and Preah Vihear Temple in northern Cambodia.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse
