CAIRO: Archaeologist Zahi Hawass was granted on Sunday Les Arts et Lettres honors by the French Embassy in Cairo, in recognition of decades-long achievements in Egyptology and for efforts aimed at boosting the cooperation between Egypt and France in the same field. The honor, one of the highest in France, was awarded to Hawass at a special function organized at the French embassy. N umber of archaeologists, media people and several movie stars attended the event. "As head of the Giza Antiquities Zone and chief of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Hawass has been able to start plans which have yielded a series of achievements, said said Philippe Coste, the French ambassador to Egypt. "Besides facilitating the work of French and other archaeological missions on the different sites, Hawass has helped unveil the mysteries that surrounded many issues relating to ancient Egypt. "He was also the main drive behind setting up the new Egyptian museum and observing the Museums Day, which is turning those places into educational hubs. The ambassador added, "We're here today to express our admiration for one archaeologist who saved no effort through the years to bolster development in the field. To honor him is a mark aimed at boosting cooperation between both sides of the Mediterranean in the area of archaeology. In his speech during the event, Hawass noted that had it not been for France, the first to take interest in Egyptian antiquities, "we wouldn't have been here today. "[Jean-Francois] Champollion was the one who deciphered the ancient Egyptian language, paving the way for setting up a science that became entirely devoted to unveiling the treasures of Egypt, Hawass explained. "When Napoleon Bonaparte headed his expedition, his aim was primarily cultural rather than military, for his team of scientists that made up part of his forces were all in full swing to discover the civilization of Egypt and its people, he added. Hawass further explained the strong ties that have held Egypt and France together on the cultural and archaeological fronts "True many French consuls might have helped move part of Egyptian monuments outside the county. But this has, in the long run, contributed to the study of Egyptian antiquities and boosted knowledge about ancient Egypt, he said.
