The Head of Mission met with the Director of the Inspectorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Ministry of Culture

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al-Azzawi, Chargé d’Affaires, met on 21/07/2020 with Mr. Alexander Traykov , Chief Director of the Directorate-General “Inspectorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage” of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. During the meeting, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al-Azzawi referred to the distinguished historical relations between Iraq and Bulgaria and the mutual support in international forums, as well as referred to the participation of Bulgaria in the international coalition forces fighting against ISIS terrorist organization, and pointed to the great sacrifices that the Iraqi people made and still make in their fight against the terrorism, on behalf of the whole world. Chargé d’Affaires Mr. Azzawi also pointed out that Iraq was subjected during the terrorist fierce attacks to looting and smuggling of Iraqi antiquities. Mr. Alexander Traykov, for his part, affirmed that Bulgaria pays great attention to antiquities that are smuggled from Iraq and other countries, especially since Bulgaria has been working within an agreement with the European Union countries for cooperation (since 2003) on preventing the import, export and trade of Iraqi antiquities within the territories of the European Union countries. He also emphasized that the Bulgarian side seeks to return any antiquities that do not belong to it and has no desire to own antiquities belonging to another country, and expressed a readiness to provide all needed facilities and assistances from the Bulgarian side. The meeting was attended also by Mrs. Zainab Wadjeeh Yaseen, third secretary on cultural matters in the embassy.