Egypt is seeking to strike a deal with the United States to track antiquities smugglers on American soil and restore stolen artifacts, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said on Sunday.
A memorandum of understanding is being prepared by the council and immigration experts at the US Department of Homeland Security, according to Mostafa Amin, the council's chairman.
Based on the memorandum, antiquities smugglers will be pursued in the US and stolen pieces will be returned back to Egypt after due legal procedures, Amin said in a statement to reporters following a meeting with the American immigration experts.
Amin revealed that the meeting with American officials discussed the possible launch of a training program for inspectors at Egyptian seaports and airports in a bid to confront antiquities trafficking.
The officials also discussed US financial and technical assistance for a security plan designed by Egyptian security experts involving the installation of modern surveillance systems at historical sites.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
