(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) Nayef Al Fayez, Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, has called for the protection of tourist and cultural antiquities in the Middle East from looting, trafficking and destruction.
Al Fayez warned in a statement carried today by Jordan News Agency, Petra, about the growing phenomenon of illegal trading in antiquities in the Middle East, citing Jordan's experience in the protection of monuments through the effective Antiquities Law and other regulations that curb the smuggling of artifacts and illegal excavations.
He stressed the importance of tightening punishments for illicit trade in antiquities, in addition to cooperating in recovering stolen artifacts through international agreements and mechanisms.
Al Fayez emphasised the importance of disseminating awareness of archaeological culture among community members, stressing the need for establishing a unified data-base for seized artifacts, and provide the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, and concerned authorities with the data.
The Antiquities Coalition and the Middle East Institute were also co-sponsors of the Cultural Heritage under Threat conference, as both organisations focus on the preservation of cultural heritage in the Arab world.
Jordan recently participated at the Cairo Cultural Heritage under Threat conference, organised by the Ministries of Antiquities and Foreign Affairs of Egypt in cooperation with the Middle East Institute and UNESCO.
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