The French Institute closed its office in Siem Reap last September, but a resurgence in interest in French culture throughout Battambang province and neighboring temple town has led to plans for a new French cultural center – named Alliance Française de Siem Reap-Angkor – in the Kingdom’s famed ancient city.  Florian Bohême, a former chief of cabinet within the Francophone Ministry in France for two years, is spearheading the project and has spent the past year working to establish the center and round up supporters in Siem Reap.  

Working with a small group of Cambodians and French expatriates, Bohême is hoping the project will benefit both France and Cambodia and contribute to the economy.   “During the time when Cambodia and France decided to work together after the Khmer Rouge – before opening the French embassy – they decided to build the French cultural center,” Boheme says.

King Norodom Sihanouk served as the governor of the Francophonie organization after he and Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia and Hamani Diori of Niger decided to organize and work with other countries under French colonial control in 1962. Jean Lestienne, a French councilor representative in Cambodia, has lived in Siem Reap for nine years and since the French Institute’s closing, he has been involved in the creation of the Alliance Française de Siem Reap-Angkor.

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/30072/french-cultural-center-proposed-for-siem-reap/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 22/09

Between Cambodia and France,two centuries of common history and friendship....