Antiquities Minister Mamdouh el Damaty asserted on Thursday that Egypt is contacting all world countries and international agencies to protect human heritage.

In a related context, el Damaty said his ministry organized in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, the UNESCO and a number of international organizations, the first international conference on the protection of human heritage.

The conference is expected to approve a raft of recommendations that might help protect the human heritage worldwide, he added.

He unveiled that Egypt is keen on amending two articles included in the 1970 UNESCO Convention as they prohibit and prevent importing, exporting and transferring ownership of cultural property illegally.

The two articles fail to include countries' right to regain monuments that were smuggled before 1970, he noted.
Source: MENA