CAIRO: Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Mohammed Ibrahim reported that Egypt had restored some 6,000 artifacts from Israel, adding that the ministry is currently negotiating to retrieve many other relics from Belgium, France and the United States. The minister said in a statement before the Parliamentary Committee of Culture, Media and Tourism, which is chaired by Mohamed Abdel-Moneim el-Sawy, that many relics have been taken out of Egypt before, under the former law that had given the right to the missions of excavations to obtain 50 percent of relics unearthed, while maintaining the other 50 percent for Egypt, then reduced this figure to 5 percent and then did not allow the exit of any relics, pointing out that any objects that were taken out in the past, were taken under a law that “allowed this, and this explains the presence of Egyptian artifacts abroad.” The Minister noted that 65 percent of the monuments as a whole, “were registered,” pointing out that relics registered at the museums and stores, “reached 100 percent,” adding that “only 35 percent remained unregistered,” stressing they record the history from prehistoric to modern times. The minister added that “all the stores are locked and secured from assaults and robberies,” explaining that what had been looted during the period of lawlessness represents only two percent of the total artifacts, noting that “security measures at all ports of Egypt are beefed up, to keep track of any attempt of smuggling monuments abroad.” The minister said there is “a plan of action for the ministry,” adding that the ministry, when he was appointed to his post, “was isolated and demanded changing the declaration by the military junta on the ministry of antiquities, which limits its freedom and makes it unable to make decision in many situations.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/w0nZk Tags: Ancient Egypt, Artifacts, featured, Israel Section: Culture, Egypt, Heritage, Latest News, Palestine
