PURSAT (XINHUA) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday announced plans to nominate seven tangible and three intangible cultural properties for inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) prestigious World Heritage List.
The seven properties aimed for tangible cultural heritage status include the former M-13 prison, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre, Banteay Chhmar Temple, the site of Angkor Borei and Phnom Da, Preah Reach Troap Mountain historical site, Preah Khan Kampong Svay Temple, Beng Mealea Temple and Kulen Mountain historical resort, he said.
The three properties planned for intangible cultural heritage of humanity list are Cambodian Songkran, traditional woven scarf Krama and Khmer wedding tradition, he added.
“We will nominate these for the UNESCO world heritage listing, so our ancestors’ cultural properties will be internationally recognised and preserved,” Hun Manet said in a speech during the inauguration of achievements at a pagoda in northwestern Pursat province.
He said that usually, it takes about two years to have a property to be inscribed on the list and a country can add only one property to the list a year.
According to the prime minister, Cambodia will submit documents to register the Cambodian Songkran on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage in 2025 and is expected to be officially inscribed in 2026.
