Iraq Recovers Three Rare Artifacts From New York

Baghdad/NINA/-The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington announced today, Wednesday, the recovery of three rare artifacts from New York.

The embassy stated in a statement that "three rare artifacts were recovered from New York in a new step towards protecting cultural heritage, as they date back to the Sumerian and Babylonian civilizations," indicating that "this new achievement reflects the tireless diplomatic efforts to protect Iraq's cultural heritage."

It added that "the recovery operation was carried out in cooperation with the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office," stressing that "this step expresses Iraq's firm commitment to recovering its looted antiquities and returning them to their original homeland."

It indicated that "the official handover ceremony took place in New York, where the receipt document was signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States, Nizar Al-Khairallah, and the Head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office, Matthew Bogdanos." It indicated that "this step is the result of careful coordination between the two sides, reflecting the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking of antiquities."

The embassy stressed, according to the statement, that "this operation is only one stop in an ongoing process of joint work with American authorities and academic and cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to recover more Iraqi treasures that were smuggled over the past decades," noting that "the recovery of these pieces will contribute to preserving Iraq's historical memory and reflect the pride of Iraqis and the world in this unique human heritage." / End