Phnom penh: Cambodia announced on Friday that Istvan Zelnik, a Hungarian private collector, has agreed to return looted Khmer cultural heritage objects following several years of negotiations. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to repatriate valuable cultural artifacts to their country of origin.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued a press release detailing the agreement, which includes the return of 183 pieces of Khmer silk textiles alongside prehistoric artifacts such as coins, beads, jewelry, and items made of precious metals, bronze, stone, and clay. The press release emphasized that many of these objects were looted from Cambodia during decades of civil war.

The agreement also encompasses other important collections, such as stone and bronze objects from both the Pre-Angkor and Angkor periods. It highlights Zelnik's previous contributions to Cambodia's cultural preservation efforts, including repatriating Khmer artifacts and supporting archaeological research projects, as well as publishing scholarly works on cultural heritage and contemporary Khmer art.

Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona described the voluntary return of Cambodian antiquities as a noble gesture. She noted that such actions reflect a profound ethical responsibility in safeguarding a nation's identity and contribute meaningfully to the preservation of humanity's shared cultural legacy.