Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy met on Tuesday with Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy to discuss ways to enhance future cooperation between both countries regarding tourism and antiquities, during his current official visit to the Turkish capital Ankara.
Fathy received 152 artifacts that had been smuggled out of Egypt illegally and were seized by Turkish authorities, including a collection of amulets, scarabs, beads, small ushabti statues, various seals and stamps, small vases, pendants and pin heads.
Fathy praised the gesture from Turkey, which reflects its desire to preserve global cultural heritage.
During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Egypt and Turkey in the field of tourism, serving as a roadmap for tourism relations between the two countries, contributing to strengthening the bonds of friendship between them and promoting further bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism, and enhancing the exchange of expertise in this vital sector
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy welcomed Fathy and his accompanying delegation, noting that this visit coincides with the celebration of the centenary of Egyptian-Turkish diplomatic relations.
The Turkish Minister of Tourism and Culture described the return of these artifacts to Egypt as an important step in consolidating friendly relations between both countries.
He pointed out that this memorandum of understanding in the tourism field will contribute towards focusing on tangible areas of cooperation.
And he expressed his eagerness for further cooperation in the near future with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
