The Libyan Antiquities Authority discussed with a European delegation joint mechanisms for protecting Libyan antiquities and recovering stolen artifacts during a meeting held at the Antiquities Authority headquarters, as part of Libyan-European cooperation aimed at strengthening efforts to preserve cultural heritage and prevent the smuggling of antiquities.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Antiquities Authority, Mohamed Al-Shakshouki, and attended by the director of the EU-supported “Nahmi” project, accompanied by a working group from the European side.

Representing the Antiquities Authority were Mohieddin Al-Baliazi (Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Information), Saif Al-Hasnawi (Director of the Office of Stolen and Displaced Antiquities) and Belqasim Al-Aknouni (Director of the Documentation and Information Office).

The two sides discussed ways of joint cooperation in the field of protecting antiquities, with a focus on supporting and developing the antiquities database system, and explored the possibility of integrating databases and developing a mechanism that allows their use at border crossings and airports, thereby facilitating the recovery of stolen antiquities and preventing their smuggling.

The two sides also agreed to organize training programs for employees of the Antiquities Authority, including bringing in a specialist to discuss mechanisms for integrating information and developing the database, to be made available to the relevant authorities at airports and land and sea ports, thereby contributing to efforts to protect Libya's cultural heritage.