Turkey to combat antiquities smuggling from Iraq, Syria

Turkey's security authorities are coordinating efforts to report any antiquities smuggled from Iraqi and Syria to museums or collectors, Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik said Saturday.
Turkish police and custom departments are playing important roles to preserving antiquities that are smuggled from Syria, and are working with authorities concern to prevent this from happening, Celik said in a statement.
The ministry, he added, was exchanging relevant information with security authorities and other ministries, as well as notifying museums and collectors nationwide of the bulletin of Interpol that contained the list of stolen relics.
Celik said the ministry would organize seminars next month about means of dealing with smuggled antiquities.
Source: KUNA