Iraqi President receives Assyrian artifact from Italy

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, received on Wednesday an Iraqi artifact belonging to the Assyrian civilization, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Presidency.

The statement mentioned that the President, accompanied by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, the Minister of Migration and Displacement, Evan Jabro, and other officials, visited the Medieval Civic Museum in the city of Bologna, Italy.

Rashid confirmed that Iraq appreciates Italy’s efforts regarding the recovery of Iraqi antiquities, in addition to its contribution to the excavations for antiquities in coordination with the Iraqi authorities, according to the statement.

The statement illustrated that the Iraqi President met with senior officials in the city of Bologna, where they discussed the destruction and looting of Iraqi antiquities throughout the ages.

The Iraqi Minister of Culture indicated that Iraq recovered 17.000 Iraqi artifacts from the United States, nearly 6,000 antiquities from the United Kingdom, 2,500 pieces from Lebanon, and some coins from Egypt, the statement clarified.

The Ancient Near East Archaeology and Art History professor at the University of Bologna, Nicolo Marchetti, expressed his aspiration to develop cooperation between the two countries because of their ancient history and civilization that contributed to the progress and development of humanity.

Rashid was briefed about different sections of the Medieval Civic Museum, which included an exhibition of Iraqi and Arab artists that has various sculptures and works of art.

The Iraqi President also listened to a briefing about the museum’s contents and its establishment, expressing his happiness to visit the museum and pointing out that Iraq and Italy share a historical and cultural heritage.