Sunday, April 22, 2007

Yet more on Egypt vs Germany re Nefertiti

"Secretary of the Supreme Council for Antiquities Zahi Hawas confirmed on April 20 that he will send an official letter to the director of Berlin's Altes Museum, requesting the approval of officials of the museum on loaning Nefertiti bust to Egypt for a three-month period, on the occasion of inaugurating the largest world museum of antiquities in mid June 2011 and which is currently set up by Ministry of Culturel on 117-fedden area on Alexandria Desert Road.
Hawas said the request shows keenness of Culturel Ministry officials to provide the chance for Egyptian and foreign visitors of the grand museum to witness their beautiful queen Nefertiti amid her counterparts of Egypt's ancient Pharaonic history.
Hawas rejected statements made lately by the German culture minister and museum director on the disapproval of German officials to Egypt's request of their loaning Nefertiti bust as they claimed danger of its damage during freight and transport."

And at:

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although Dr Hawass thinks he is doing Egypt a favor by chiding the Germans and others about return of Egyptian Antiquities, his sound bites are more to keep his job and show the Egyptian Government he is trying to fight their corner and obtain the return (even for a short term). How can Hawass talk about how unjust it is that the Germans are worried about the non-return of the Nefertiti Bust, as Hawass has talked about obtaining its return previously.

Hawass would be better off doing deals behind the scenes instead of trying to bully the British Museum and others. As much good Hawass has done in moving forwards the idea of conservation of Egyptian monuments this has been negated by his fog-horn diplomacy.

Anonymous said...

Although Dr Hawass thinks he is doing Egypt a favor by chiding the Germans and others about return of Egyptian Antiquities, his sound bites are more to keep his job and show the Egyptian Government he is trying to fight their corner and obtain the return (even for a short term). How can Hawass talk about how unjust it is that the Germans are worried about the non-return of the Nefertiti Bust, as Hawass has talked about obtaining its return previously.

Hawass would be better off doing deals behind the scenes instead of trying to bully the British Museum and others. As much good Hawass has done in moving forwards the idea of conservation of Egyptian monuments this has been negated by his fog-horn diplomacy.