Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass said on Friday that Egypt is ready to help Iraq recover stolen antiquities from other foreign countries and museums. According to news reports, Egypt over the past six months has restored about 5000 artifacts that were smuggled out of the country. Cairo hosted an international conference in April 2010 attended by some 30 countries to discuss ways to return the stolen antiquities of various countries from museums all over the world. Hawass and Iraqi officials discussed the Egyptian experience in protecting monuments, establishing museums and restoring stolen antiquities from abroad, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Antiquities. The statement said Iraq had requested Egyptian expertise in organizing archaeological exhibitions as well as the creation of a protocol for bilateral cooperation in archaeological endeavors.
