WORLD / EUROPE
France decides to return Egyptian relics
Published: Oct 10, 2009 03:07 PM Updated: May 25, 2011 01:03 PM

French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand decided Friday to return five pieces of wall paintings belonging to Egypt, the ministry said in a statement.

The ancient paitings exhibited in the Louvre Museum are from an Egyptian princes' tomb which is over 3,000 years old, and were obtained by the French national museum between 2000 and 2003.

Because the legality of the obtainment is in serious doubt, Mitterrand convened 35 experts along with the museum authority on the day to discuss about the restitution demanded by Egyptian authority, according to the statement.

Finally, the ministry agreed with experts' recommendation that the relics should be restituted to Egypt.

Egypt on Wednesday accused Louvre Museum of exhibiting its stolen antiquities, and alleged a suspension of all cooperation with the museum unless the relics are returned.

Mitterrand responded later that day that France will return them if theft gets proved.


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