India on Friday expressed concern over reports of damage to conservation facilities at the Preah Vihear temple complex amid ongoing clashes along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said any harm to conservation structures at the UNESCO World Heritage Site was “unfortunate and a matter of concern”.
Calling the Preah Vihear temple a “shared cultural heritage of humanity”, Jaiswal noted that India has been “closely involved” in preservation efforts at the site. He said New Delhi hoped that “all measures will be taken to fully safeguard the site and related conservation facilities”.
Reiterating India’s call for calm, he urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. “We urge them to return to the path of dialogue and peace,” he said.
Situated on the edge of a plateau that dominates the plain of Cambodia, the Temple of Preah Vihear is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the UNESCO, the temple is composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800 metre long axis, dating back to the first half of the 11th century AD.
(with IANS input)
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