The United States has agreed to impose restrictions on the import of smuggled Egyptian artefacts into the country. Reuters news agency quoted the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Al-Damati as saying that the US State Department has responded to a request by Egypt to be vigilant and restrict the import of smuggled cultural property and antiquities into the United States. The minister confirmed the agreement will be signed in early 2015.It is nice to see it clarified that it is to curb smuggling that we have these measures. What responsible dealer could oppose that?
Now it is time to watch the unedifying spectacle of the lobbyists for the dugup dealers associations (disappointed that the request did not get bogged-down in Washingtonian bureaucratic foot-dragging and a decision was taken quickly) falling over themselves to 'dig up the dirt' and propose evidence of another "conspiracy against collectors". Yap-yap-yap.
Source:
Tahrir News Network, 'US to impose restrictions on smuggling Egyptian antiquities', 25th November 2014.
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