TOKYO DECLARATION, 13 OCTOBER 1993

“ We, the representatives of Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Vietnam, the European Community, the Asian Development Bank, the International Centre for the Study of the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for the Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO/SPAFA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), meeting at the Inter-governmental Conference on the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor which was held in Tokyo on 12 and 13 October, 1993, adopted the following :

1- We recognize that the Angkor monuments are one of the world’s most valuable cultural heritages in Asia as well as the national symbol of Cambodia and its people, and that international co-operation for the safeguarding and development of the Angkor region, including the Angkor monuments, is of particular importance for national reconstruction.

2- We recognize that the people of Cambodia have sovereignty over and primary responsibility for the safeguarding and development of the historic area of Angkor. Based on this recognition, we will support the Cambodian people’s efforts to bring about and pursue this task. We pay tribute to His Majesty Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, for His actions in favors of national reconciliation; His personal commitment has been the essential factor in the mobilization of the international community for the site and region of Angkor. We welcome the establishment of the new Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia as a result of free and fair elections, permitting the reinforcement of international co-operation for the site of Angkor and the surrounding region. We also welcome the announcement but the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia of the introduction of organizational and legal measures to protect the site, prevent looting, and ensure the maintenance of security of the region as well as to facilitate efficient operations of preservation, restrain and development.

3- In holding this conference, we respond to the appeal of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. We recognize the urgent need for international assistance to prevent the Angkor monuments from further decay and destruction. These international efforts should be carried out in a coordinated manner for the safeguarding and preservation of the monuments and historical area taking into account their cultural, socio-economic and ecological dimensions.

4- We hold this conference for the purpose of mobilizing such international efforts. We examined the various means of assistance for the preservation and development of the Angkor area and a number of participants announced substantial financial and technical assistance for further co-operation. A list of participants which indicated their willingness, during this Conference, to contribute, by one means or another, is attached as well as the declarations made by Delegations, durant la conférence, leur volonté de contribuer par un moyen ou par un autre, figure en annexe, tout comme les déclarations des participants.

5- We declare our deep appreciation of UNESCO’s action for safeguarding of the Angkor monuments to date, as well as for the recognition of the site as a common heritage of mankind. This deep appreciation is also extended to the countries. Organizations and foundations which, despite difficult conditions, took and are taking measures for preventing decay and launching restoration works on the site of Angkor. A special mention of those countries, organizations (especially UNDP) and foundations, is made in the list attached. In extending international assistance, we should take into consideration the approach of regional development that the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to emphasize and for which the Zoning and Environmental Management Plan (ZEMP), might after review by the national authorities, be considered as a useful Contribution for the elaboration of a master plan for the region.

6- We also declare our deep appreciation for the role of international and national non-governmental organizations as well as community based organizations in preserving the site and hope that they will continue and increase their efforts.

7- We recognize that each country and organization has its own ways and means of co-operation in accordance with its circumstances to decide what would be done in order to best mobilize international support.

8- We appeal to the international community for its support to the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia in its actions against the looting and illicit traffic of cultural property which continue to plague the heritage of Cambodia.

9- We expressed, as requested by the Cambodian Delegation, our readiness to systematically include, in the programme of rehabilitation and the promotion of the site of Angkor, training activities for Cambodians at all levels. We also encourage the transfer of necessary know-how between the international experts and their national counterparts.

We equally share the view on the importance that, as soon as possible, the authorities and administration of Cambodia be able to assume responsibility of the conception and implementation of works to be carried out. We took note of the Cambodian Delegation’s desire that, without prejudice to indispensable studies to be undertaken, the assistance of its partners leads quickly to concrete operations on the site. Nous exprimons notre volonté de tenir compte de ces différentes demandes dans nos programmes d’interventions.

We express our willingness to take into account these requests in our actions.

10- We agree to establish a co-ordinating committee (the Committee) at the ambassadorial level in Phnom Penh as the international mechanism for co-ordination of assistances to be extended by different countries and organizations as referred to in the previous paragraph. In order to assure its co-ordinating role, the Committee will be systematically informed of the details of work being undertaken on the site and in the region. It will ensure the consistency of the different projects, and define, when necessary, technical and financial standards and will call the attention of the concerned parties when required.

11- We agree that the Committee should be composed of representatives of the Kingdom of Cambodia and interested governments and organizations. Relevant non-governmental organizations and foundations may be invited to participate in the Committee as observers. It is proposed to place this Committee under the honorary presidency of His Majesty Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia. It will be co-chaired by France and Japan, and UNESCO wills be in charge of the secretariat of the Committee. We agree that all decisions by the Committee be subject to the agreement and co-operation of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The participants share the view that the Committee should be the international mechanism referred to in the Resolution 3.13 of the 26^th session of the General Conference of UNESCO.

12- We agree to establish, when appropriate, working groups and hold round tables composed of experts nominated by the countries and international organizations which are participants of the Committee.

13- We agree to convene a second meeting of this Conference in due course to review the progress made and to discuss the need for new actions.”

Declaration adopted at the first Intergovernmental Conference for the Safeguarding and Development of the Angkor Site, Tokyo, Japan (October 12 and 13, 1993)