Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) — Egypt has postponed the long-awaited grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) due to the escalation of military confrontation between Israel and Iran, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference during a tour of the northern province of Beheira, Madbouly said the current regional climate was not conducive to hosting a major international event. The museum’s opening, originally scheduled for July 3, has now been postponed to the fourth quarter of this year.
“Tensions in the region could persist for several weeks,” Madbouly said. “We have concluded that the right decision is to postpone this major event so that it gains the right global momentum and takes place in the right atmosphere.”
He added that a new opening date will be announced depending on future developments in the region.
Madbouly also issued a stark warning about the wider implications of the Israeli-Iranian conflict, noting the growing risk of a wider confrontation in the Middle East.
Situated near the famous Giza pyramids and covering an area of almost 500,000 square meters, the Grand Egyptian Museum is considered the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, it will house some 57,000 artifacts. –0–