European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 14, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Egypta file in Law boy the famed bust of Queen Nofre Tete a wife of pharaoh Akhnaton amenhotep in arrived in Berlin under mysterious circumstances. / m of a it x of tourism mummies Back on View but not without debate by the new York times shortly after he became president in 197q, Anwar Sadat banned the viewing of mummies at the egyptian museum in Cairo. His concern was not so much the preservation of relics of ancient times but the Sanctity of the dead. Mummies however Are Back in full View now at Cairo s museum. Sadat s decree was annulled in the push to attract tourists and make up for the hard blow dealt to egyptian tourism by islamic fundamentalists who targeted tourists in a Campaign two years ago to Embarrass the egyptian government and deprive it of nearly $3 billion in revenues. The Effort to revive tourism by showing previously unrevealed treasures of pharaonic Egypt has engendered a debate. Opponents argue that Little consideration is Given to the damage caused to the very Sites put on display and with them the legacy of ancestors. In Luxor the repository of a wealth of pharaonic temples tombs and other remains of ancient Egypt the government s plan to open the Tomb of Queen Nefertari is strongly contested. Quot described in ancient writings As the most Beautiful wife of Ramses ii she ruled Egypt from 1304 . To 1236 . During an Era widely reckoned to be among Egypt s most glorious periods her Tomb which was discovered in 1904, holds some 200 Square Yards of paintings Many restored patiently Over years but not opened to the Public until now. Even though the egyptian government says it will require visitors to Wear surgical masks and shoe coverings critics say damage could occur from breathing which produces humidity that could harm delicate and intricate paintings showing Queen Nefertari in a White dress topped with a transparent Cape or standing in thin slippers wearing a wig and earrings. Quot in 10 or 15 years Nefertari will disappear Quot says prof. Ali Radwan former Dean of the faculty of archaeology at Cairo University who teaches egyptology there now. Quot the problem is that such decisions Are taken and implemented As if people Here have nothing to do with it Quot he said. Quot dealing with archaeological wealth is like dealing with a patient. It must be done delicately slowly and above All in a responsible fashion. Even the most careful tourist is bound to rub against these murals not to mention those who want to touch history and will do it on purpose. A few years of that and you can say goodbye to our  the press in Cairo has been filled with discussion of the government s tendency to give priority to attracting tourists Over the preservation of Egypt s Patrimony. Since 1992, when the political violence that has killed hundreds of people a including several tourists a began tourism in Egypt has dropped from some 3 million tourists a year to about 2.6 million last year. While the government has succeeded in containing the violence tourists Are still hesitant to come. Regarding the antiquities in question egyptian officials. Say enough precautions have been taken to preserve historical Sites. Abdelhalim Noureddin director of the egyptian antiquities organization for example insists the Nefertari Tomb is. In sufficiently Good condition to be opened a at a still undetermined time but expected to be soon. Noureddin s Bottom line however As he puts it is Quot we want the  he says that guards who will probably number six to eight will take All necessary precautions with visitors stressing that Only eight people at a time will be allowed into the delicate Structure tucked in a Mountain for the past 3,200 years in Luxor. Temperature and humidity will be monitored. But Miguel Angel Corzo director of the j. Paul Getty conservation Institute which undertook major work to restore the Tomb has said that if 125 visitors went in the Tomb their breathing alone would produce the equivalent of three Gallons of water poured Over the murals. Quot there is no Way anyone can claim that visitors entering such a narrow space will not cause damage Quot Radwan said. 8 stripes Magazine september 14-20, 1995