Iraq will turn to international courts to return the looted artifacts

Baghdad-INA  
The head of the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage in the Ministry of Culture, Laith Majid Hussein, confirmed today, Thursday, the authority's intention to use  international courts to return the smuggled Iraqi artifacts, while revealing big plans expected to revive the ancient city of Ur and link it with other sites. 
Hussein told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "there is great cooperation from many countries of the world to work with the General Authority for Antiquities and the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to return the cultural heritage that was smuggled illegally  drilling. 
He added, "There are several countries that have expressed their great willingness to return these pieces, and there are also many court cases about some countries that have been reluctant to return some pieces," stressing that "the Commission is determined to return the last artifact outside Iraq." 
He pointed out that "the commission is taking the legal ways, as there is an international law that protects the stolen and looted Iraqi property, and international courts will be turn to in this regard," noting that "there are international organizations such as Interpol that greatly assist Iraq in following up on these cases and also urging countries to return the cultural heritage in a legal and sound manner.