Egypt retrieves 3 artifacts from Germany

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, has restored three artifacts from Germany. The retrieved antiquities were handed over to the Egyptian embassy in Berlin. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy underscored that a top priority is given by the state to preserving heritage and tracking smuggled artifacts. Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary General Mohamed Ismail said that retrieval operation started when the Museum of Hamburg contacted the Egyptian embassy in Berlin to hand over a hand and skull belonging to an ancient Egyptian mummy. At the meantime, customs authorities at Frankfurt Airports confiscated an amulet with the symbol of a"ankh", during an illegal entry attempt to the country, Ismail added. The hand-over of the artifacts came after an official request submitted by the Egyptian government, in line with the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities added. Source: State Information Service Egypt