RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will not show any leniency toward smuggling of antiquities, Prince Sultan bin Salman has announced.
The chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said the Kingdom gives top priority to preventing such crimes. Opening a conference on Arab antiquities and heritage in the Saudi capital, Prince Sultan said the Kingdom works with Interpol and other international organizations to prevent smuggling of its antiquities.
He welcomed participants including the director general of Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization Muhammad Ashour and also wished every success for the conference.
“Saudi Arabia gives utmost importance for the protection of heritage and antiquities and considers it a national issue because of its historical and cultural importance,” he explained.
Prince Sultan said the Kingdom would witness this year the first exhibition of Saudi antiquities that have been retrieved from other countries in the past.
Ashour said the conference would discuss the impact of Israeli excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque and moves to destroy Islamic antiquities in the occupied Palestinian territory.
