Egypt Asks for Increased Restrictions on Cultural Imports, State to Review Request at Hearing

The State Department should impose import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material from Egypt originating from its prehistoric through Ottoman periods, said the Egyptian government in a recent request (here) to the State Department. The content of the request is confidential, and was made in accordance with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization protocol. The State Department Cultural Property Advisory Committee will hold a meeting (here) on June 2-4 at the State Department to review the Egyptian request. The committee will also review import restrictions on archaeological material from the pre-Hispanic cultures of Nicaragua. Those that wish to attend the meeting must contact the State Department by May 14. Comments are also due by that date.