In your article "Gov't extends Sokimex Ticket Deal at Angkor" (Aug. 18, page 1), Mr. Sok Kong was reported to have said that "the decision was supported by .... the International Monetary Fund."

The statement, as reported, is not correct. The IMF has repeatedly urged the Royal Government of Cambodia to use competitive bidding in granting or extending any concession agreement.

This is also true with regard to the contract for the management of ticket sales at Angkor Wat.

The IMF has repeatedly stated this view at meetings of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor, at the Second Intergovernmental Conference held in Paris in November 2003, and subsequently on many other formal occasions. The IMF also has not been involved in any discussions between the government and Sokha Hotels related to the extension of the present contract.

The reported extension of the current contract does not have the endorsement of the IMF.