Egyptian diplomatic efforts in Germany to prevent antiquities smuggling

The Egyptian embassy in Berlin held several meetings with German officials to convey the Egyptian viewpoint on protecting antiquities from smuggling and fighting illegal excavations and smuggling networks, Ambassador Badr Abdel Aati said.

Several meetings were held with the state minister for culture at the German Foreign Ministry and other ministry officials, the Egyptian envoy told MENA correspondent here.

Letters were sent to heads of parliamentary blocs and chairpersons of parliament committees concerned to review a new bill on protecting cultural property, which will provide better protection for antiquities and prevent their illegal trade within Germany, he said.

The new bill includes a set of provisions unprecedented in the German legislation to protect foreign cultural property, Abdel Aati said.

It, however, has some negative points, such as its non-applicability on the antiquities that have been smuggled before 1970, which is the year Germany ratified the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, he added.