I have conducted a few independent interviews with several opponents of the Foundation's research project, who were seeking to stop the dig, and for some odd reasons claiming that the Foundation was damaging the protected medieval Bosnian city of Visoki, which is located on the very top of Visocica hill/ The Pyramid of the Sun, whereas the Foundation never even excavated in its vicinity whatsoever.
I have conducted a few independent interviews with several opponents of the Foundation's research project, who were seeking to stop the dig, and for some odd reasons claiming that the Foundation was damaging the protected medieval Bosnian city of Visoki, which is located on the very top of Visocica hill/ The Pyramid of the Sun, whereas the Foundation never even excavated in its vicinity whatsoever. In addition to this, they all dismissed Dr. Aly Barakat as an incompetent scientist who confirmed the existence of the pyramids in Visoko's Valley.
However, I had an opportunity today to meet with Dr. Nabil Swelim, during my current visit to Visoko; I asked him to give me any comments on this controversy that was surrounding Dr. Aly Barakat.
Merima B: Dr. Swelim, I have conducted several interviews with the local professors, (Pr. Imamovic, Pr. Lovrenovic, Ms. Zilka K. Vejzagic, including professor Novakovic from Slovenia) the opponents of the Foundation's project, and they all condemned Dr. Aly Barakat and commented that he was not a legitimate expert on the pyramids. What is your comment on that?
Dr. Swelim: Well, I would like to say that Dr. Barakat knows more about the pyramids than those people you have just mentioned; he knows more than all of them combined. The level of knowledge of Dr. Barakat is a lot higher than the level of knowledge of these people from Europe you mentioned, because if they knew anything about the pyramids, I would know these names and I don't.
Merima B: OK.
Dr. Swelim: You see, I don't even know what they know about Dr. Barakat and the pyramids. Perhaps, they went on a camel and took a few photographs in front of the Khufu Pyramid but that still does not make them the experts on the pyramids.
First, let me tell you who the Western experts on the pyramids are ……There is a German gentleman who works in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and his name is Dieter Arnold, an American who works in the Harvard Semitic Museum in Chicago whose name is Mark Lehner, and he knows a lot about the pyramids. There is a Czech, Miroslav Verner who works in Cairo and he also has a great knowledge about the pyramids, and there is another German called Rainer Stadelmann, who also lives in Cairo and he is also an expert on pyramids. You see, these people are legitimate experts on the pyramids, not the ones you just mentioned.
Merima B: Thank you for your explanations; Dr. Barakat told me that Mrs. Zilka Kujundjic Fejzagic, the head curator of the National Museum in Sarajevo wrote to Dr. Zahi Hawass, complaining that the work undertaken by Dr Barakat was of an unscientific and incompetent nature, claims which jeopardized Dr Barakat's career and reputation. What are your opinions on this?
Dr Swelim: He is a competent and well respected geologist in Egypt, and I believe he undertakes work within his field of expertise with the professionalism required by scientific research. Do not pay attention to those who act in a hostile manner. You have a lot of work to do here, and it is important not to be distracted by the hostilities of certain individuals.
