Undersecretary Maria Tripodi attended the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilisations in Baghdad, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.
The Forum of Ancient Civilisations is a platform for dialogue and cultural cooperation, with the aim of enhancing the legacy of ancient civilisations in the contemporary world through the tools of cultural diplomacy.
“Working together for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, which – as clearly stated by UNESCO – is always the heritage of us all, can help heal wounds, overcome misunderstandings, restore dialogue and rebuild conditions for peace.” – pointed out the Undersecretary, recalling how Italy is in the front line to ensure that Culture and the defence of Cultural Heritage acquire greater prominence on the international agenda.
Undersecretary Tripodi added: “Italy’s firm commitment to multilateral cooperation is also expressed bilaterally, in the provision of expertise that our country has developed in the field for more than half a century. The well-known activity of the Carabinieri Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage is now flanked by the action of the Blue Helmets for Culture and the training activities of the International School of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture (MIC), whose 2022 Programme is specifically dedicated to Technologies for Archaeology.” In conclusion, the Undersecretary stressed how the increasingly central and pervasive role of Culture in economic and social systems, and therefore in international relations, reaffirmed the Forum’s raison d’être and prospects.
The Baghdad Declaration, adopted during the Ministerial Meeting, reaffirms the Member States’ enduring desire to strengthen cultural dialogue and mutual understanding between different civilisations, as preferential tools for addressing the complexity of the current times and for promoting global peace and achieving sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting, Undersecretary Tripodi attended a meeting of the Heads of delegations with the Prime Minister, Mohamed Shia Al Soudani, and held a bilateral meeting with the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Fouad Hussein. At the end of her mission, accompanied by Ambassador Greganti, she visited the Italian military contingent in Baghdad, welcomed by the Commander, General Iannucci, and went to greet the remaining staff of the Italian Embassy.