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Iraq Exhibits Ancient Artifacts Returned by US and other Countries

Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL
Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL
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Iraq Exhibits Ancient Artifacts Returned by US and other Countries

Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL
Employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs check the recovered antiquities put on display at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 July 2024. EPA/AHMED JALIL

Iraq on Monday exhibited several ancient artifacts that it said had been returned by the United States and other countries, long after they were looted and smuggled out following the 2003 US invasion.
Iraqi authorities have been trying to retrieve thousands of archaeological relics missing since the invasion, which was followed by widespread looting in the country that some historians regard as the cradle of civilization, Reuters said.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein handed the recently recovered relics over to Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed al-Badrani at a ceremony in Baghdad.
Most of the artifacts on display at the foreign ministry headquarters were returned by the US after a visit by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to Washington in April, Badrani said.
He said other relics had been returned by other states, but gave no details.
Hussein said more "rare archeological collections" would be returned by Switzerland and Japan this month.

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Hartwig Fischer Appointed Founding Director of Museum Specialized in World Cultures in Riyadh

The Saudi Museums Commission logo
The Saudi Museums Commission logo
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Hartwig Fischer Appointed Founding Director of Museum Specialized in World Cultures in Riyadh

The Saudi Museums Commission logo
The Saudi Museums Commission logo

The Saudi Museums Commission announced on Wednesday the appointment of Dr. Hartwig Fischer as the founding director of a museum focused on world cultures, set to open in 2026 in the Royal Arts Complex situated in King Salman Park, now under construction in Riyadh.

Fischer will set the foundations for the museum and lead it, based on his global expertise in leading international cultural institutions and museums, the Commission said in a statement.

Fischer, according to the statement, has extensive experience spanning decades of curating exhibitions, leading cultural institutions, and spearheading innovative initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and appreciation across cultures.

Under his guidance, the museum will serve as a dynamic hub for cultural exchange, offering innovative programming, educational initiatives, and collaborative partnerships to inspire curiosity, appreciation, and admiration for the world's diverse cultural traditions.

With its striking 110-meter-high building designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, the museum will offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore world cultures through themes relevant to all humankind. It endeavors to relate Saudi and Arabian Peninsula heritage and highlight the cultures that have emerged and expanded over time from Africa across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. It will offer visitors an extraordinary opportunity to explore human universals and shared values, and the fascinating diversity of achievements across millennia and across the globe.

As Saudi Arabia embarks on an unprecedented journey of cultural transformation, the establishment of such a museum represents a pivotal moment in the Kingdom's cultural renaissance, added the statement.

The flagship museum, which will constitute an iconic landmark within the Royal Arts Complex and King Salman Park, will play an important role in enriching the Kingdom's burgeoning cultural landscape.

The museum also epitomizes the Saudi Museums Commission's commitment to establishing state-of-the-art museums that celebrate global heritage and foster cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.