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| | Iraqi Cultural Heritage: first UNESCO mission to Baghdad from 15 to 20 May 2003
19-05-2003 - On the initiative of the Director-General of UNESCO, and following recommendations of an international experts meeting held on 17 April, at the Organization’s Headquarters and another held on 29 April, at the British Museum in London, an expert mission visited Baghdad, from 15 to 20 May 2003, to elaborate a first report on the state of Iraqi cultural heritage. |
Led by the Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, Mr Mounir Bouchenaki, the mission also consisted of the Director of the British Museum, Mr Neil MacGregor, the Director of the Iraqi-Italian Centre for the Conservation of Monuments, Mr Roberto Parapetti, the Chief of the Archaeological Mission of Japan in Iraq, Mr Ken Matsumoto as well as Mr John Russell, Dean of the Massachusetts College for Arts. It was organized in close cooperation with the UN Coordinator for Security and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq, Mr Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the American authorities and Iraqis in charge of the Baghdad Museum.
During the mission, the experts concentrated on questions related to the theft of cultural objects, the preparation of an inventory for the Baghdad Museum and the fine tuning of an action plan aimed at restoring the principal cultural institutions of the city, and in particular, at enabling the employees of the museums to resume their activities.
On Saturday, 17 May, a working meeting was held at the Baghdad Museum, in the presence of the Director of the Museum, Ms Selma Nawala Mutawalli, the Director of Research, Mr Donny George and the Director-General of the Iraqi Antiquities Department, Mr Gaber Khalil. Ambassador Piero Cordone, who has been designated by the American authorities as Civil Administrator for Iraqi Cultural Heritage, also took part. Underlining the essential role of UNESCO in the rehabilitation of Iraqi cultural heritage, Mr Cordone his full readiness to facilitate the work of the Organization in this matter.
Mr Francis Dubois, Resident Coordinator of UNDP in Baghdad also assured UNESCO of UNDP’s full support in the rehabilitation of Iraqi cultural heritage.
On 18 May, another working meeting was held with the officers and staff of the Iraqi Antiquities Department to which UNESCO has granted emergency financial assistance to enable them to recommence their work. The group of experts then visited the Adhamya Mosque, the final resting place of one of the four founders of the Islamic school, Abu Hanifa. Lastly, the members of the mission visited the National Archives, the Manuscripts Centre, and the Baghdad Library.
The results of this first mission will enrich the future international database on stolen Iraqi objects, which was an outcome of the meeting held on 5 and 6 May last at Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France. The scientific coordination of this database was assigned to UNESCO.
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Office of the Spokeswoman
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