Egyptian Antiquities Minister in Direct Talks with US Officials

'Antiquities Minister: Talks with officials in charge of US agencies supporting Egyptian antiquities lead to good outcome', State Information Services Thursday, 13 March 2014 Antiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said on Thursday 13/3/2014 that consultations he had held with US officials on Egyptian antiquities had a good outcome.

The Antiquities Ministry and the museum support center of the US Smithsonian Institution agreed on signing a framework agreement to contribute to a museum development program, which is being carried out by the ministry, Ibrahim added in statements following an official visit to the US. The Egyptian official said he held talks with the assistants to the US secretary of State for educational, cultural affairs and Near East affairs on means to boost cooperation between the Egyptian and the US governments to protect Egyptian cultural properties and to curb trafficking in antiquities as well as restoring smuggled artifacts.

Perhaps, since the looting began three years ago, it is time for the US to move fropm "talks" to doing something more effective about the US involvement in the trade of its products. Their "Emergency restrictions" procedure is obviously too cumbersome to have any real clout.