President Mubarak Monday, June 26 opened Coptic Museum in old Cairo, newly renovated at the cost of LE30 million.

This museum is  one of the most important museums all over the world.

Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni said that the museum includes rare pieces of antiquities which were extracted from excavations nationwide. He said the museum contains 26 showrooms displaying 1300 pieces of antiquities.

The President watched a documentary on the process of renovating the museum.
Dr. Zahi Hawwas, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities said that the Council started modernization  in 2003.

Sobhi Shenouda, the Director General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities said that Egypt has always been a haven of security for the Holy Family .

During the tour, the President asked about the progress of works on the Amr Bin Al-Aas Mosque and was told that the civilization museum project which is currently built in Al-Fostat region would be completed within three years.

The President further asked about works on the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids plateau and was told by the Minister of Culture that work is going on according to plan, adding that the museum would be completed in a period of five years.

The President instructed Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif to remove slum areas surrounding the site of the museum.

Answering a question on the financing of the project, the Minister of Culture said that it is made through a loan of  300 million dollars given by the Japanese government.

He said the remaining costs of the project would be covered by the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The Minister of Culture said that the feasibility studies showed that the project would cover its costs in a period of years.

On the other side, President Hosni Mubarak visited the Republican Guard and the new facilities in its HQ Monday.

Minister of Defense and Military Production Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Sami Annan and Commander of the Republican Guard Gen. Sami Abul-Ala Diab were on hand to receive the president.

General Diab delivered a word in which he counted the development process achieved in the Republican Guard units.

Afterwards, the President went to the Grand Hall where he attended an oriental music party.