On the 2nd of August two Italian experts seconded by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage, Professor Bianchi and Mr. Di Bella, will start a week-long training activity in the frame of the strong cooperation between Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which dates back to 2003. The two experts will deliver technical training to Iraqi personnel working in the Museum. More specifically, Iraqis will be taught to use the important manuscripts and artefacts restoration material donated by Italy to the Baghdad Museum.
Last April 23rd the Italian Ambassador attended the delivery to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Iraq of materials purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities of Italy. It is a full laboratory equipment comprising: items for restoration of manuscripts and archive printed materials, equipment for biological investigations of excavated materials and museum artifacts, consumable materials for the restoration laboratories of the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad, which manages the conservation of the findings of the whole territory, and which had been rebuilt from MIBACT in 2004, after the sacking of April 2003.
Moreover, one of the first concrete actions in support of Iraq’s cultural heritage was launched, coming after the destruction inflicted by ISIL in northern Iraq. Italy and Iraq are envisaging a joint initiative for the creation of a scientific map of the sites of the regions occupied by ISIL where there have been acts of vandalism and theft at the expense of the Iraqi heritage. A first georeferred list of cultural sites in the district of Mosul, including the city, has been delivered to Iraqi Authorities. This search promptly realized by Italy provides with a functional model for the collection of basic scientific datas for all the occupied territories and will form the technical basis for the restoration and reconstruction efforts that will be undertaken by the Iraqi government and the international community once interventions to stabilize post-conflict Iraq are initiated.
