[10/02/2025 05:50]

AMMAN - SABA
The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammar al-Eryani along with the President of the National Society for the Conservation of Petra, the President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas inaugurated today, Monday, a Law Enforcement Training Workshop held in Amman, Jordan.

The workshop was organized by the American Council of Foreign Research Centers and the American Foundation for Research on Civilizations within the framework of the grant for the implementation of the "Cultural Property Agreement between the Republic of Yemen and the United States of America", supported and funded by the US Department of State, through the Embassy of the United States of America in our country.

Al-Eryani stated that Yemen, with its great ancient history and unique cultural heritage, enjoys priceless antiquities and civilizational treasures, which are an integral part of the Yemeni identity.

He blamed Houthi militias for targeting Yemen's history by looting and smuggling the Yemeni artifacts.
"The terrorist Houthi militia is not just an armed coup, but an integrated criminal network that practices looting, smuggling and selling antiquities", said Muammer.

He added "Unfortunately, Yemeni antiquities are subjected to organized looting and systematic smuggling by the Houthi militia as part of its criminal scheme that aims to obliterate the Yemeni identity and exploit the cultural heritage as one of the sources of enrichment for its leaders and supervisors, and finance its terrorist activities."

He added, "The terrorist Houthi militia is not just an armed coup, but an integrated criminal network that practices looting, smuggling and selling antiquities."

The Minister hailed the agreement signed between Yemen and the United States, which aims to protect Yemeni antiquities from smuggling and illegal exploitation, describing it as a wonderful model to be emulated. It has already helped Yemen to retrieve dozens of antiquities.

The workshop aims to come up with a clear action plan that contributes to establishing a police force specialized in combating antiquities smuggling, with full mandates to deal with this crime and to enhance partnership and cooperation between ministries, security, judicial and cultural institutions to combat the smuggling and sale of antiquities as well as to establish strict control mechanisms to prevent the export of antiquities and to track what has been smuggled and recover it in cooperation with the international community.

Minister Al-Eryani voiced deep thanks and gratitude to the US government, represented by the US State Department, the US Embassy in Yemen and the various US agencies and institutions that supported and contributed to the conclusion of the agreement to protect Yemeni antiquities from smuggling and illegal exploitation.

He also highly appreciated the significant efforts of the Executive Director of the American Foundation for the Study of Civilizations and Special Advisor to the American Center for Overseas Research Dr. Zaydoon Zaid and everyone who contributed to this significant workshop.

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