Egypt and other states which say artifacts have been illegally taken abroad should work together and list items they want returned from Western museums, Egypt's top archeologist said Wednesday. Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, was speaking to representatives from 21 countries, some like Greece and Syria, seeking the return of artifacts and others like the United States which have returned stolen antiquities. “Museums are the main source for stolen artifacts. If they stop the theft will be less,” Hawass told delegates who also included representatives from China, Libya, Peru, Chile, Nigeria and Italy. Hawass has been pushing to repatriate some major pharaonic treasures Egypt says were plundered by foreign powers, including the Rosetta Stone and Queen Nefertiti's bust. One of the conference aims was to ensure implementation of a 1970 UNESCO convention under which countries agreed measures to prevent the illegal export of national treasures.
