Iraq is still striving to recover thousands of antiquities plundered from its museums and archaeological sites, as the war-torn country aims to develop its tourism industry to help rebuild its economy.
"We're faced with all kinds of sophisticated and political and legal difficulties," said Bahaa Mayah, the adviser to Iraq's minister of tourism and antiquities.
"Countries that were against the American or the western intervention in Iraq, they are not cooperating with Iraq and returning the artefacts. We managed to retrieve over 6,000 pieces. It's estimated that over 180,000 pieces have left Iraq [since the Second Gulf War started in 2003]."
He said many of these were sold in international auction houses. Iraq is calling for a new treaty to amend the situation, as it works on developing its tourism sector.
"We're trying to attract investors to come to Iraq and build hotels and all other services that are needed by the industry."
He said there were only seven upmarket hotels in Baghdad. Some of the major international hotel chains have said they are starting to consider future opportunities although the city remains unstable.
"Tourism creates jobs for youth," said Mr Mayah. "If we manage to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, this means social security. Iraq could be in the future a destination for different kinds of tourism: religion; education; archaeology. It has a big potential."
[ rbundhun@thenational.ae ]
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Director: James Wan
Starring: Jason Mamoa, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Rating: 2/5