Iraq: ongoing negotiations with USA to recover looted antiquities

Shafaq News / The Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities revealed, on Monday, that the visit of its minister, Hassan Nazem to USA aims to discuss the fate of Iraqi antiquities smuggled to the United States of America.

The Ministry’s media office said, in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “some websites and media talked about a contract concluded by the Ministry of Culture to retrieve some antiquities with the American Hobby Lobby Company, and this is not accurate, there was an understudy idea about developing a memorandum of understanding with the company.

 The Ministry of Culture statement emphasized, "It is not the minister's authority to conclude any contract with any party without referring to the Council of Ministers."

 “Minister of Culture Hassan Nazem accompanies the Prime Minister on a visit to The United States has declared and its goal is to discuss the fate of the archaeological wealth smuggled to the USA.” The statement added.

It said, "recovering the antiquities will be discussed within the legal procedures, negotiations and memoranda of understanding.”