Antique gold pot handed to Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, with the attendance of Iraqi vice-premier Hussein Shahristani, handed over to the Iraqi ambassador Hussein Al-Khateeb an antique pot made of gold. In a statement issued by the German Foreign Ministry, as received by IraqiNews.com, said that the original pot dates back to the third century B.C. It was kept by the German government after an auction made in 2005 in Munich. The statement added that the handing over is part of the endeavors made by the German government to prohibit importing Iraqi antiques since 2003 on the European Union level. Earlier, Westerwelle handed over three Babylonian tablets in Berlin. Iraqi antiques were plundered after 2003 war. Expert estimated that 15,000 pieces were stolen form Iraqi museums. 2,000 pieces were found in the U.S., 700 pieces in Jordan, 200 pieces in Syria as well others in France and Switzerland. RM (TS)/SR 678