Foreign diplomats visit exhibition of Khorvin artifacts at Tehran museum

TEHRAN – A number of foreign diplomats visited the exhibition of the Khorvin artifacts that were recovered from a Belgian museum last December at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran on Monday.

 

The collection, which consists of pottery and metal artifacts, arrived in Tehran on December 25, 2014.

 

The treasure contains 349 artifacts, which Belgium sent back to Iran after a legal battle that lasted 33 years.

 

Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Director Masud Soltanifar also accompanied the diplomats, the CHTHO announced.

 

In his short speech, Soltanifar honored the Belgian ambassador to Tehran, Francois Delhaye, for his great efforts in returning the artifacts.

 

“The historical artifacts of [the ancient site of] Khorvin are the lost pieces of Iran’s local culture, which returned home by the efforts that CHTHO made in collaboration with the country and officials of Belgium,” Soltanifar said.

 

He expressed his hope that Belgium’s act would turn into a good symbol for other countries and culture-loving nations to help return cultural properties back to their homelands.

 

The artifacts had been excavated from a 4000-year-old ancient site near the village of Khorvin over 60 kilometers west of Tehran.

 

RM/YAW

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