Iraq Prepares A List Of 12 Heritage And Natural Sites To Be Included In The World Heritage List

Baghdad / NINA /- The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Abdul Amir al-Hamdani, revealed today, Thursday, the preparation of a list of 12 heritage and natural sites for inclusion on the list of the World Heritage. Al-Hamdani said in a press statement today that his ministry prepared a preliminary list of 12 sites to be included on the World Heritage List, which varied between heritage, cultural and natural sites. He added that "the sites included the ancient city of Nafr in Diwaniyah province, which was considered the capital of ancient Iraq and the city of Nimrod, the Assyrian capital in addition to Amadiyah fort in Dohuk Governorate and a joint site in Halabja with the Iranian Republic and the old Hajj road linking Iraq and Saudi Arabia that starts from the city of Kufa in the province of Najaf and it is a Joint file with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as Sharabiyya School in Wasit Governorate and Taq Kesra in Al-Madaen, the site of Al-Ahidar Fort in Karbala Governorate and the Tigris Beach that extends between Bab Al-Muadham and the Eastern Gate in Baghdad, as well as Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery as the largest cemetery in the world, in addition to the Sea of Najaf and Lake Sawa, Kirkuk Castle, Hit Castle and the Lalash Temple of Yezidi religion as the oldest temple for Yazidis which is located in sheikhans in Nineveh. " He pointed out that "some of these sites obtained approval and the other section is under study," noting that "the ministry sent a request to UNESCO to include the Lalash Temple on the preliminary list of Iraq and it was accepted in advance." He pointed out that "there are dozens of important historical and archaeological and historical sites that we are working on to include them on the list of World Heritage." He continued, "The ministry formed a team from the national effort that includes a group of archaeologists, researchers, historians, surveyors, photographers and painters, working on preparing the files for the sites and creating the standards that require the inclusion of those sites on the World Heritage List." The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Culture, Education and Science (UNESCO) had previously voted, unanimously, to include the city of Babylon in southern Iraq on the World Heritage List ./ End