Zahi Hawass Receives Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Award in Washington

Egyptologist and former minister of antiquities Zahi Hawass has received the Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Award in Washington during the sixth biennial edition of the honours programme.

The ceremony brought together more than 500 guests, including White House officials, the presidents of the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution, American cultural and political figures, and Egypt's Ambassador to the United States, Motaz Zahran.

The evening opened with musical and vocal performances and included tributes to six international, American and Lebanese honourees.

Egyptian-American business leader Dina Powell delivered the keynote address, describing Hawass as a cultural ambassador who had "brought antiquities into every home across the globe."

The Meridian Center, which organises the awards, operates through a joint structure comprising representatives from the United States Department of State alongside cultural and political figures.

In his acceptance speech, Hawass dedicated the honour to Egypt, saying the recognition marked the culmination of a career devoted to preserving and promoting the country's archaeological heritage.

He also praised the role of United States Homeland Security and federal agencies in supporting efforts to recover stolen and illegally trafficked Egyptian artefacts, adding that his work had always been guided by what he described as a "pure passion for antiquities."

The ceremony concluded with an official dinner attended by guests from the worlds of politics, culture and academia.