Libya and the United States sign a work program to protect cultural heritage and combat antiquities smuggling
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Tripoli, January 16, 2025 (LANA) - The Libyan Antiquities Authority and the US Embassy signed, on Thursday, a work program for a memorandum of understanding between the two sides in the field of protecting cultural heritage and combating antiquities smuggling.
The work program was signed on the sidelines of the Restored Cultural Heritage Exhibition held at the historic Al-Saraya Al-Hamra Citadel in the presence of the Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid Al-Lafi, and a number of interested and specialized people in the field of antiquities and culture.
The work program, which was signed between the Libyan Antiquities Authority and the US Embassy, includes a strategic work plan extending from 2024 to 2027, with the aim of enhancing joint efforts to protect Libyan cultural heritage from smuggling and destruction, with a focus on strengthening the international role in preserving Libya's cultural identity.
The Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid Al-Lafi, said that the Government of National Unity succeeded in retrieving 21 stolen and smuggled antiquities outside Libya, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect cultural heritage.
The Minister pointed out that the signing of the work program came based on the instructions and directives of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who attaches special importance to enhancing cooperation in the field of protecting cultural heritage.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, a guided tour was organized in the exhibition displaying artifacts recovered from smuggling operations, where archaeological experts provided detailed explanations about the history of the pieces and their cultural significance.
It is worth noting that the event is the culmination of ongoing efforts to recover Libyan antiquities, and reflects the commitment of Libya and the United States of America to protect the shared cultural heritage through effective cooperation between the two countries.
..(LANA)..