Egypt's efforts to protect underwater antiquities reap fruits

The efforts of Egypt's permanent delegation to UNESCO have resulted in-the implementation of certain items of the agreement for protecting underwater antiquities.

Egypt's delegate to UNESCO, Mohammed Sameh Amr, who represented the country at the negotiations held at the UNESCO premises in Paris, said that Egypt had made persistent efforts over the past four years to conclude the agreement when it was realised that other advanced countries were seeking access to the underwater monuments claiming they wanted to preserve the world's cultural heritage.

Egypt, which possesses one-third of the world's ancient monuments and whose waters are still revealing more monuments every year, has fought fiercely against attempts by certain advanced countries to obtain rights to its waters and the mineral wealth, in return for the excavation efforts.

Most countries taking part in the negotiations have agreed on the draft agreement that will be submitted for final approval to the diplomatic conference due to be held on the sidelines of the UNESCO general conference in autumn.