Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Kim Hyun-mo, head of the South Korean Cultural Heritage Authority, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of antiquities and museums at Prince Muhammad Ali Palace in Manial, Cairo.
The signing of this agreement came within the framework of the current official visit of the South Korean President to Egypt.
The MoU aims to contribute to establishing policies for the sustainable preservation of cultural property, support mutual cooperation in the fields of antiquities, museums and halls, and work on exchanging experts and expertise from specialists in both countries.
During the signing ceremony, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities stressed the importance of the MoU signed today in the field of antiquities and the exchange of experience between the two sides and the enrichment of archaeological and museum work, heritage and excavations, information technology and the establishment of external exhibitions.
Dr. Waziri pointed to the confidence of the Egyptian side in the experience of the Korean side in the field of antiquities restoration and technology.
The first activation of this agreement would be the start of the restoration work of the first edifice at the Ramesseum Temple in Western Bali in Luxor.
The head of the Korean Cultural Heritage Authority expressed his happiness with this fruitful cooperation between the two countries, showing his aspiration to start implementing the terms of this agreement and the participation of the Korean side for the first time in Egyptian excavations and restoration projects.
He depicted the ancient Egyptian civilization as the most ancient civilizations in the world, saying that his current tour in Egypt included visiting the Valley of the Kings on the western bank of the Nile River inLuxor, the tomb of King Tutankhamun, the Temple of the Ramesseum, the Karnak temples and the Luxor Museum.
Under the MoU concluded between the two sides, cooperative projects related to combating illegal trafficking in cultural property will be strengthened; exchanging experiences in the field of cultural heritage management, managing archaeological sites, their institutions and museums, and exchanging experiences in the field of sunken antiquities; the preservation, maintenance and protection of cultural property; capacity development in the field of antiquities and museums.
Moreover Egypt and South Korea will exchange experiences in areas related to archaeological and museum work through organizing training courses, workshops, seminars and joint conferences, as well as educational programs.
The two countries will support the exchange of archaeological excavations, including conducting archaeological surveys and preservation works for the discovered pieces.
Work will also be done on the use of modern technology in the fields of archaeological and museum work; exchanging experiences in the field; applying modern technology in areas related to archaeological sites and museums; registering archaeological sites on the World Heritage List and preparing registration files and related studies.
At the end of the ceremony, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities presented the head of the Cultural Heritage Authority a commemorative shield.
Translated by Ahmed Moamar
