France to grant 1m euro for Vat Phou project

The government of France has announced a grant totalling 1 million euros for a three-year project starting next year on the site of the ancient, Khmer-built Vat Phou, according to a government official on Tuesday.

The head of the Vat Phou World Heritage Site Office, which was established last month, Mr Khankham Kaenboutta, said that the agreement is under preparation and is expected to be signed later this month...more

He said that the many activities covered by the agreement would continue on the plans of the Lao government.

The project will have numerous functions, including architectural restoration, cultural activities and information management, according to the Head of Heritage Architecture of the Solidarity Priority Fund for Vat Phou, Mr Laurent Delfour.

“We are sending Lao architects and engineers to receive training at a new school in Cambodia , which runs a course on cultural heritage,” he said.

This year, two Lao architects have already attended the course, and the project plans to continue sending architects to Cambodia every year, according to Mr Delfour.

Also, this year, one Lao official will be sent to France to be trained as an information specialist and to see how this work is done in France , he said.

“We hope that after this three-year project, the office's Lao staff will be able to work unassisted,” he added.

During this time, the project will involve making the site more secure and beautifying the surroundings, as well as producing a handbook for tourists explaining what they can see, and special activities such as the baci ceremony to encourage them to spend more time at the site.

“Everything should be realised with harmony and manners, because UNESCO's plan gives us much to do but we still have to respect the site,” Mr Delfour said.

So far, many countries have provided preservation assistance, including support from the government of Italy worth more than US$150,000.

Vat Phou was built at the end of the 5 th century during the early period of the Khmer Empire in Cambodia , and is one of the oldest historic sites in Laos .

T he site was listed as a world heritage site on December 16, 2001 by UNESCO, and covers 390 square kilometres of three districts - Champassak, Pathoumphon and Phonthong.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Vientianetimes

France help Laos to prepare for francophonie ministerial meeting
(KPL) A French Development Agency (AFD) of France provided recently a grant aid worth 300,000 Euro or US$ 390,000 to the Lao PDR. This grant fund will be used for the installation of the light system in some important places and buildings in the Vientiane Capital.

The installation of light system in Vientiane is a part of the preparation for hosting the Francophonie Ministerial Meeting which is expected to be held in Vientiane on 19-21 November 2007. This is a final preparing meeting before the francophonie summit will be opened in Paris.

The hosting of this francophonie ministerial meeting is reflecting to the co-operation of Laos to the francophonie affairs.

A representatives from more than 60 countries worldwide are invited to take part at this meeting.

The assistance of France is considered as a big contribution for improving the Vientiane Capital.

The signing ceremony for the grant aid was held on 31 May at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Mr. Hiem Phommachanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and French Ambassador to Laos.

Source: kpl.net.la