The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has formally requested the temporary display of unique ancient Egyptian antiquities kept in several museums abroad during the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2011.

SCA Secretary General Zahi Hawwas said he met Ambassador Mona Saudi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Cultural Affairs, and discussed with her procedures to put into effect an agreement between Culture and Foreign Ministers Farouq Hosni and Ahmed Abul-Gheit respectively to contact foreign countries to allow the return of the monuments for display during the ceremony.

The objects in question are the Rosetta Stone, now in the British Museum in London, the bust of Nefertiti in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, the statue of Great Pyramid architect Hemiunnu in the Romer-Pelizaeus Museum in the German city of Hilesheim, the Dendara Temple Zodiac in the Louvre in Paris, and the bust of Kephren pyramid builder Ankhaf in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA.

Hawwas said he hoped the foreign countries would accept the Egyptian request in the light of distinguished ties with these countries.