Visit by the Director of the Berlin Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Press release from 12/21/2009
The Director of the Egyptian Museum of the National Museums in Berlin, Friederike Seyfried, also met with Zahi Hawass, Director General of the Egyptian Antiquities Administration, last Sunday as part of her inaugural visit to her Egyptian colleagues in Cairo.
In this context, Seyfried emphasises: "My conversation with Dr Hawass was in no way about acting as a mediator with regard to the bust of Nefertiti. The documents on the division of finds from the German Orient Society's excavation in January 1913, which Hawass has in his possession, clearly prove that the bust of Nefertiti is rightfully in Berlin. The position of the German side is clear and unambiguous. The acquisition of the bust by the Prussian state was lawful. Incidentally, the occasion and subject of the conversation was quite different. It was about the possibilities of future cooperation, such as an exchange of restorers, joint exhibitions and similar collaborations."
In the past, there have been several announcements in the media about requests for the return of artefacts. An official request for the return of the Egyptian government has not yet been submitted.