Follow Al Rai
The Lebanese Minister of Culture, Ghassan Salameh, handed over 37 Pharaonic artifacts smuggled from Egypt to Beirut in an illegal manner to the Egyptian Ambassador to Beirut, Alaa Moussa, on Wednesday.
This took place during a ceremony held at the National Museum in Beirut, according to the Lebanese News Agency.
The archaeological collection includes two wooden coffins decorated with colors, wooden masks and dolls, pieces of Coptic textiles, glass paste amulets, and medium-sized statues, according to the agency.
Salameh said that the artifacts were seized at Beirut port 6 years ago.
He added that the Lebanese authorities cooperated during that period with Egypt and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in preparation for their return.
He added: "I am pleased that the farewell gift for the Egyptian Ambassador, as his term is coming to an end, is addressed to his government and to the Grand Egyptian Museum, and it is 37 precious and beautiful pieces that we seized in Lebanon and today we hand them over with pride and honor to their rightful owners"
The Lebanese minister pointed out that the relations between Egypt and Lebanon are "sibling relations" and that both sides seek to make them exemplary.
For his part, the Egyptian Ambassador Alaa Moussa expressed his appreciation for the Lebanese cooperation in recovering the artifacts.
Moussa valued "the concerted efforts of all Lebanese parties and the full coordination with the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Antiquities to reach this distinguished moment"
He affirmed "the standing of the Arab Republic of Egypt always alongside Lebanon"
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
