Cambodia's king becomes honorary citizen of Prague before state visit

Updated:2006-09-14 08:52:05
Cambodia's king becomes honorary citizen of Prague before state visit
AP
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - The municipal assembly in the Czech
capital voted Thursday to give honorary citizenship of Prague to
Cambodia's king Norodom Sihamoni, an official said.

An overwhelming majority in the 70-seat assembly voted to award
Sihamoni the citizenship, before his state visit to the Czech Republic
scheduled for next week, Prague City Hall spokesman Jiri Wolf said.

The assembly awarded Sihamoni, who lived in Prague in the 1960s and
1970s, citizenship to show Prague holds him in esteem and to appreciate
what he has done for the Czech capital's international reputation and
for the development of friendly relations between Cambodia and the
Czech Republic, a statement released by the City Hall said.

Prague mayor Pavel Bem will bestow the honor on Sihamoni at a ceremony
at City Hall on Sept 20, Wolf said.

During his weeklong visit that begins Monday, Sihamoni was to meet
President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and other Czech
leaders.

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