Peru recovers artifacts from Yale University, thanks Egypt

Nevine El-Aref , Saturday 18 Dec 2010

With the support of Egypt, Peru succeeds in repatriating some of its artifacts from Yale University

Yesterday, Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), received a letter from the Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, acknowledging Egypt’s cooperation and support in recovering 4,000 artifacts that were being held in Yale University in the US.

Ambassador Liliana Cino, sub-secretary of Foreign Affairs for the International Cultural Policy, has expressed her appreciation and gratitude to Hawass on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde, and the country of Peru, for sharing his experiences in repatriating Egyptian antiquities.  Peru had fostered a relationship with Dr Hawass during the SCA’s conference on the International Cooperation for the Protection and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage in April 2010.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lima stated that Yale University would return the artifacts after Peru threatened to take legal action against the president of the university.

In a letter to Hawass, Ambassador Cino indicated that the main pieces would be returned to Peru by the end of 2011, and the rest of the objects would be restoreded by the end of 2012, according to arrangements between the two parties.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez led a huge media campaign against Yale University in November, in an attempt to pressure them into returning the antiquities. This campaign, along with other tactics, proved very effective in convincing Yale to return the objects.

The Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs has discussed many concerns relating to the   illegal antiquities trade with Dr. Hawass, and both countries plan to work together in the future to fight these crimes.

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