F¨re-en-tardenois: The Jardin Norodom Sihanouk (Norodom Sihanouk Garden), named in honour of His Majesty the late King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and located in the town of F¨re-en-Tardenois, France, was officially inaugurated on Jan. 8 in commemoration of the late monarch’s historic visit to France for peace talks.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the inauguration ceremony of the Jardin Norodom Sihanouk was held in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Samdech Reach Botrei Preah Anoch Norodom Arunrasmy, High Privy Councillor to His Majesty the King and Member of the Cambodian Senate; H.E. Luy David, Cambodian Ambassador to France; and senior officials of the town of F¨re-en-Tardenois.
The garden serves as a symbol of the enduring friendship between Cambodia and France, H.E. Ambassador said. ‘On behalf of the Royal Government and the Cambodian people, I express our deepest gratitude to the City Hall and the Municipal Council of F¨re-en-Tardenois for this meaningful gesture, which honours the memory of His Majesty the late King-Father and further strengthens the friendship between Cambodia and France,’ H.E. Luy David stated.
The town of F¨re-en-Tardenois holds special historical significance as the site of the first meeting in 1987 between the late King-Father and Samdech Techo Hun Sen, then Prime Minister of Cambodia. ‘This historic dialogue marked the beginning of the peace process and national reconciliation, which eventually culminated in the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. These accords ushered in a new era of stability and reconstruction for the Cambodian people,’ the Royal Embassy of Cambodia underlined in a recent press release.