Hussein: The government prioritizes reconstructing archaeological and cultural sites

INA-  BAGHDAD 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein confirmed that the government has placed the reconstruction of archaeological and cultural sites on the top of its priorities.


 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Friday, that " Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, received yesterday, Thursday, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)."


 At the outset of the meeting, Hussein welcomed "the visit of the High Representative of UNAOC, and his participation in the Forum of Ancient Civilizations, which was held in Baghdad on 12/4/2022."



 He stressed "the importance of the relationship between Iraq and the United Nations, and that the presence of the United Nations and its specialized agencies and its various activities is of great importance in providing support and technical assistance to national institutions, especially in the field of capacity building and reconstruction of areas liberated from the terrorist gangs of ISIS."

 He added, "The Iraqi government has made reconstruction, social peace and reintegration among its priorities, as well as the reconstruction of archaeological and cultural sites and places of worship that were destroyed by the terrorist gangs of ISIS," pointing out that "the terrorist gangs of ISIS committed their crimes against all components of the Iraqi people and all their religions and sects."

The two sides stressed the need for solidarity and cooperation in the issue of restoring social cohesion between the components and local communities, especially in the city of Sinjar, the Nineveh Plain and other regions, and providing a suitable environment for the return of the Yazidis and the people of the Christian religion, and working on the reconstruction of their places of worship.

 For his part, Miguel Ángel Moratinos extended his "thanks for the efforts made by the Iraqi government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare and hold the sixth ministerial meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations in Baghdad," offering "congratulations to Iraq on the success of the Forum and the adoption of the Baghdad Declaration, which represents an added value to the efforts aimed at the dialogue of civilizations and cultures and convergence between peoples and nations.

 Moratinos added, "His visit to Iraq is very important and positive from multiple sides," noting that he "had many meetings with leaders and representatives of religious communities in Iraq."

 He pointed out that he "visited the holy city of Najaf and held an important and successful meeting with the religious authority, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Al-Sistani, and they exchanged conversations about the importance of coexistence between religions and sects, rejecting extremist thought and hate speech, spreading a culture of tolerance and spreading the message of peace in the world, which is part of the action plan that the United Nations set on the Protection of Religious Sites and Temples.

 He stressed, "The United Nations' continuation and desire to provide the necessary support and advice to Iraq in various fields, according to the priorities set by the Iraqi government."

 In conclusion, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) stressed "the importance of sending a team of experts from the United Nations and international organizations to visit the heritage and religious places in Sinjar to record the damage and help in its reconstruction, to confirm the contribution of the international community and its role in this field."

 The two sides agreed, according to the statement, on "the importance of continuing coordination and exchanging visits to achieve these goals."