Paris: Cambodian and French officials gathered in Paris on April 13 to honour the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide, marking a solemn moment of remembrance at the first memorial of its kind in Europe.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the commemorative ceremony was organised by the High Council of Asians in France (Haut Conseil des Asiatiques de France) and took place at the memorial monument located in the park of the 13th arrondissement. The event drew high-ranking dignitaries and members of the Cambodian diaspora to pay respects to the millions who perished during the brutal regime.

Distinguished attendees included Cambodian Ambassador to France H.E. Luy David, Mayor of Paris Mr. Emmanuel Gr©goire, Mayor of the 13th Arrondissement Mr. J©r´me Coumet, and Mr. Thomas Lam, a Member of Parliament and President of the France-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The monument, the first dedicated to Khmer Rouge victims on French and European soil, serves as a vital site for the "psychological reparation" of survivors and their families.

In his address, Ambassador H.E. Luy David recalled the tragedy that claimed nearly two million lives-almost one-third of Cambodia's population at the time-through execution, torture, starvation, disease, and forced labour. He emphasised that by authorising the monument in a public space, the City of Paris has played a crucial role in preserving historical memory and educating future generations.

The Ambassador expressed deep gratitude to the French government for its long-standing solidarity, noting that France has provided refuge to thousands of Cambodians since the 1970s. He also highlighted France's significant diplomatic and financial support for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) since 2006, which sought truth and justice for the victims.

"The transmission of memory and history is the light that helps humanity unite to continue building a precious peace for the world," the Ambassador stated.

The ceremony comes at a time of peak diplomatic relations between the two nations. Cambodia is set to host the Francophonie Summit this November, coinciding with a scheduled state visit by French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron to Phnom Penh-a milestone expected to further deepen bilateral ties.