On Thursday, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities received seven ancient Egyptian artifacts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Expatriate Affairs at the New Administrative Capital. This comes after French authorities seized the artifacts last January.
Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, expressed his happiness at the recovery of these pieces, which reflects the close cooperation between Egypt and France in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property. He emphasized both sides’ commitment to implementing relevant international agreements, foremost among them the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
Fathy affirmed that the recovery of this collection reflects the commitment of the Egyptian state, with all its institutions, to protecting its unique civilizational heritage. He stated that “every recovered artifact is a restoration of a part of our national memory and Egyptian identity.” He added, “We will continue these efforts in cooperation with our international partners to protect our heritage for future generations,” commending the fruitful cooperation between the Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Expatriate Affairs.
French authorities had confiscated the artifacts in Paris after verifying their illegal exit from Egypt. They were handed over to the Egyptian Embassy in Paris last March in preparation for their return to their country of origin.