CAIRO: The Unesco is not threatening to suspend aid allocated to Egyptian antiquities in Giza, Luxor and other areas, said Culture Minister Farouk Hosni.
Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stressed that what has been published in some dailies concerning the suspension of this aid is baseless.
“Various aspects of cooperation have been currently boosted between the council and the Unesco, revealed Hawass.
He added: “Of late a committee belonging to Unesco’s world heritage has been examining the financial center under construction next to the citadel in Islamic Cairo. The committee has made several remarks that have been taken into consideration.
Hawass stressed that no letters have been issued from the Unesco demanding the setting up of natural and cultural reserves or the suspension of the aid.
“Such sites have been already declared as natural and cultural reserves by both Cabinet and the ministry of culture.
He noted that for any site to be registered as part of world heritage, it should be protected by the laws of the country housing it.
In Egypt the Giza pyramids, Sakara, Abu Rawash, Mete Rahina as well as Luxor and the zone of antiquities in Nubia, Islamic Cairo, Saint Catherine in Sinai and Deir Abu Mina in the northern coast have all been set aside as reserves that should be protected by the country’s laws, said Hawass.
The culture ministry has set up a committee of experts to survey these sites with the aim of taking all necessary procedures to safeguard them as cultural and natural reserves.
Work is in full swing in cooperation with the ministry of environment to declare the Baharia oasis and adjacent zones as a natural reserve.
