Iraq and Egypt discuss mutual tourism and archaeological relations

Culture and art

29-01-2022, 20:30

INA - BAGHDAD

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Hassan Nadhim discussed on Saturday, with his Egyptian counterpart Khalid Al-Anani activating tourism and archaeological relations between the two countries.

”Nadhim, met in Cairo with al-Anani at the ministry's headquarters as they discussed activating relations between the two brotherly countries with regard to the antiquities and tourism sector, which did not live up to the level of ambition, and in a manner commensurate with the cultural depth of the two countries,” included a statement by the ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Both discussed the common problems facing the two countries in terms of tourism, theft of antiquities and their sale in countries of the world.

"The State of Egypt recovered many stolen antiquities, and that Iraq achieved tangible successes in this field and was able to recover thousands of important artifacts, which requires uniting efforts to counter the theft of antiquities,” the statement added.

The two sides agreed to set up workshops to train archaeologists in both Egypt and Iraq, and also agreed on cooperation between the archaeological museums of Iraq and Egypt in the areas of development, and the possibility of benefiting from the experiences of the Egyptian side in developing Iraqi museums.

For his part, the Egyptian minister affirmed that his country ”is preparing for a broad international conference to prevent trafficking in antiquities smuggling, and that Iraq will be a participant in it to prevent expansion in this field, which could be a source of terrorism financing,”

He pointed out that "Egypt used to receive about 100,000 Iraqi tourists annually before COVID-19 pandemic,”