Cash-strapped Egypt considers offering pyramids, other monuments for rent

[zorgon]

Cash-strapped Egypt considers offering pyramids, other monuments for rent
Friday, 01 March 2013

By Al Arabiya

Egypt's finance ministry sent a proposal to the country's antiquities ministry to consider offering key monuments, including the pyramids, to international tourism firm as a quick solution to generate funds needed to overcome the financial crisis, an official has said.

Rumors about the proposal, which some described as preposterous, have circulated online for weeks.

But on Wednesday, Adel Abdel Sattar, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, in an interview with Egypt's ONTV channel confirmed the existence of a proposal to offer Egypt's monuments, including the pyramids in Giza, the Sphinx, the Abu Simbel Temple and the temples of Luxor, to international tourism firm.

There have been reports that the rich Gulf state of Qatar, which strongly supported efforts to oust former president Hosni Mubarak from power, is interested in a deal to exploit Egypt's most precious historical assets for a period of five years. The return for Egypt would be a substantial amount of money, estimated at $200 billion, enough to pay the country's national debt and heal its economic woes for years if not decades to come.

Abdel Sattar confirmed the proposal to rent out Egypt's monuments but denied that Qatar or any Gulf state was involved.

Abdel Sattar said he was "surprised" at the end of January when the finance ministry forwarded him a proposal by Abdallah Mahfouz, identified as an Egyptian intellectual, to offer in a public auction the rights to exploit Egypt's most famous sites to international tourism firms.

Sattar said the proposal indicated that such a move would provide a quick solution to the country's financial deficit as it will generate about $200 billion over five years.

Despite his objection to the proposal, Sattar said he sought legal advice from the Ministry of State of Antiquities and following a meeting with the Supreme Council of Antiquities the ministry decided to send rejection letter to the finance ministry.

Monica Hanna, Egyptian archaeologist and researcher, was quoted by the Egypt Independent was a "a litmus test" to test how far can Egypt go in its struggle to overcome the economic crisis.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/03/01/268970.html

[thorfourwinds]

[Somamech]

It does kinda make you wonder whether Former President Hosni Mubarak and all his little men took the money and ran so they could sit back and watch the fun in their gold laden palaces!

This may seem Off Topic, but I do tend to look at very broad pictures when I see something like the Pyramids potentially being offered for rent and tie in some odd story for a bigger picture view of How Egypt Works through countless hours of listening to ABC Radio National Australia!

I recently listened to an Interview with an Egytian born Aussie

Akmal Saleh

who is doing well on the Comedy Circuit on ABC in regards to a Doco he has just made in regards to the Arab Spring.  The most compelling item he shared was how he was treated after upsetting many people during his first corporate gig as a comic.  I wish ABC made the transcript available as it was quite mind boggling what he said... Re-affirms my opinions on Phony Doctor Zahi Arse and why he would be the Supreme Master under that Rule.


Comedian Akmal Saleh went back to Egypt in 2011 to film a documentary about the country's experiences of Arab Spring

Broadcast date: Tuesday 26 February 2013

Akmal is a very successful stand up. He's been on TV, radio and even in a feature film.

Once, while performing at a function in Australia, he made a joke about President Hosni Mubarak, which caused the Egyptian ambassador to angrily walk out.

Akmal was later told it would not be safe to return to the country of his birth.

But when Mubarak was overthrown in the Arab Spring, Akmal returned to Cairo to make a documentary about life under his brutal regime.

Pharaoh vs The Egyptians will premiere at the Byron Bay Film Festival on Sunday March 3, 2013.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/02/26/3698614.htm?site=conversations