On July 09, 1999 morning at 8.30 morning at the Council of Ministers, there was a plenary cabinet meeting, presided over by Samdech Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia in order to review and pass:

1. Draft sub-decree on the organization and functioning of the Ministry of Information.
2. Listen to the Committee for Research Study reporting about the project to control and develop tourist area in Preah Vihear.

After the active discussions and view exchanging, the cabinet achieved the results as follows:

Draft sub-decree on the organization and functioning of the Ministry of Information

The cabinet approved of the draft sub-decree which states that the Ministry of Information is handed over the task by the Royal Government to lead and control information field, news giving and broadcasting through bulletins, newspapers, magazines, photographs, radios, televisions and electronic media. Among other tasks, the ministry can be permitted to run business and control the use of radio and television broadcasting power except for the radio system-AM, SW, and so on. The Ministry of Information has four Department Generals- Audiovisual administration, Cambodian Press Agency (French acronym AKP), Cambodian National Radio, and Cambodian National Television.

The reports of the Committee for Research Study about the project to control and develop the tourist area in Preah Vihear.

After attentively listening to the reports, the Royal Government decided in principles as follows:

1. The Royal Government hands over the task to the National Authority in charge of border affairs to continue resolving border issues with Thailand by regarding the limitation of border demarcation in Preah Vihear as the first priority.
2. The Royal Government in principles gives a green light to changing an agreement to open international border pass at Preah Vihear temple into regional border pass by setting easy formalities for Thai tourists and third country tourists, and changing sub-decree N⁰ 36 dated June 02, 1998.
3. The Royal Government allows CMAC to jointly cooperate with Thai Mine Action Center (TMAC) to demine both sides of the road to Preah Vihear temple. Separately, CMAC also has the task to demine the area of Preah Vihear inside Cambodian territory in order to provide security for Cambodian people and traffic handicrafts made in Cambodia to sell at Preah Vihear temple because tourists wish to purchase Khmer products and handicrafts.
4. The Royal Government has a policy to invest in the development of Preah Vihear area by organizing master plan. The organization of the development project may be made locally and may separately be jointly made with Thai side; but casinos, karaoke parlors or restaurants are not allowed to open near or surrounding Preah Vihear temple, and the area of Preah Vihear has to be turned into cultural tourist region.
5. The Royal Government approved of the ticket prices to visit Preah Vihear temple as follows:

For Thai citizens:

· U.S$ 2 per person for the adults

· U.S$ 1 per person for the children

For third country tourists:

· U.S$ 5 per person for the adults

· U.S$ 2 per person for the children

The Royal Government agrees to the division of the percentage of ticket sale for Thai side.

6. The Royal Government hands over the task to the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense to cooperate together in order to deploy border police forces by supplementing forces expert at protecting national heritages and tourists instead of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, aiming at scaling down the military forces at Preah Vihear temple.
7. The Royal Government hands over the task to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and National Committee UNESCO concerning the possibility to place Preah Vihear temple as one of the world heritages. While receiving the positive information from UNESCO, the Royal Government will submit this proposal to Majesty the king for royal consideration.

The cabinet meeting ended at 12.30 P.M.

Phnom Penh, July 09,1999

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