An exhibition called “Mesopotamia: Rising Again from Beauty” was opened today by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mario Giro. It runs from 7 May to 22 May and takes visitors on a journey across a multifaceted experience made of hologram projections, 3D reconstructions, videos, photographs and an original score. The exhibition tells a story of art and friendship, but it is also proof of the humanitarian aid and the technological research conducted by Italy in Nassiriya, Baghdad, Mosul, Suleymaniya, Erbil and Duhok, which emphasises the public value and civil identity promoted by Italian Cooperation activities.
Italy has become a major player in the reconstruction process of the country, by joining in the international community’s effort to support Iraq, and funding projects since 2003 that are worth approx. 16.6 million euros. Special mention needs to be made of the large amounts allocated to the preservation and restoration of Iraqi cultural and archaeological heritage. Italy is firmly convinced that the reconstruction of the country’s economic and social fabric may start from the recovery of a key-area such as its cultural sector. Italy has lengthy experience in preserving cultural assets and conducting historical, artistic and archaeological studies in research and restoration.
Italy’s involvement has grown since 2012 following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on archaeological science. After this new projects were launched to encourage an ever growing number of archaeologists and Italian specialised research centres to resume working in the sites which were abandoned when the conflict broke out.