Hawass receives honorary doctorate in Peru, promotes tourism to Egypt

Nevine El-Aref , Thursday 13 Jul 2017

Former Egyptian minister of antiquities and renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass received on Wednesday an honorary PhD and an award from the University of Layola in Peru for his efforts in the archaeological field and his achievements in Egyptology.

During the ceremony, a documentary on Hawass' major discoveries in Egypt was screened.

Hawass also delivered a lecture on antiquities in Egypt, asserting that Egypt is safe for tourists and called on Peruvians to visit the country's distinguished archaeological sites and museums.

Hawass also met with Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and asked for Peru to support Egypt's candidate for UNESCO director-general Moushira Khatab.

Hawass told Ahram Online that Peru's minister of foreign affairs told him that Peru and other South American countries have not yet submitted a candidate for the post, promising to support Egypt's candidate.

Hawass recently helped Peru repatriate 46,000 artifacts that were in the possession of Yale University in the United States.

Hawass, who was given the Blue Sun Award at Peru's presidential palace, gifted the Peruvian president his hat and his book on Tutankhamun's treasures.

Peru's president also asked Hawass to help his country organise a touring exhibition on Peruvian antiquities.