Agreement to preserve Babel archeological site

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Head of the Cultural and Educational, Ali al-Adeeb, on Wednesday agreed with Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to intensify joint efforts between the two countries to maintain and preserve the Iraqi archaeological legacy, including the Babylon ancient site. “The agreement came during the meeting held in Washington today between the joint committee to coordinate the educational and cultural cooperation of the Iraqi-U.S.strategic framework agreement under the chairmanship of Ali al-Adeeb and Ann Stock,” Qassem Mohammad Jabar, a general director of the Higher Education Ministry, told IraqiNews.com news agency. The two officials discussed also increasing the number of Iraqis who want to study in the U.S. “The meeting is the second of its kind to activate the agreement’s articles which orchestrates the educational and cultural relations between the two countries,” he added. “The meeting also dwelt with what has been achieved since the first meeting held in Baghdad last March,” Jabbar added. Babylon, the ancient site of the “Tower of Babel” and Nebuchadnezzar’s wondrous “Hanging Gardens,” has been exposed through archaeological excavations beginning in the 19th century. The site includes open-air ruins and is overlaid with a few reconstructed ancient buildings, extensive areas of modern construction dating to the rule of Saddam Hussein, and several villages. In 2004, concerns surfaced about damage done to the ancient site of Babylon as a result of the use of parts of the site for military installations. Several reports on the condition of the archaeological remains were issued, and recommendations for ameliorative actions were broadly vetted. Recognizing that any actions at such an important site would be best undertaken within the structure of a good management plan, the U.S.Department of State has provided $700K to World Monuments Fund (WMF) to work in partnership with the SBAH on the development of a plan for the management and preservation of Babylon. SH (TI)/SR 1495