[CPProt.net] Iraq: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Affairs Demands for Amending the Constitution Draft

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Affairs Demands for Amending the
Constitution Draft  
September 28, 2005

The minister of tourism and antiquities affairs has demanded for amending
the constitution draft, to contain a reference to the antiquities and
museums and including them under the competence of the central government,
in cooperation with the regions.  

He noticed that the constitution did not include any reference to the Iraqi
civilization heritage. While the drafting committee has confirmed that this
issue was thoroughly discussed and that its final decision on it gives the
local authorities the competence of supervising the antiquities in the
federal regions, the culture ministry warned, "Against the disastrous
consequences which would affect the civilization heritage, once it is put
under the supervision of regional authorities."

Hashem Al Hashemi, minister of tourism and antiquities, said, "The lack of
reference (in the constitution draft) to the antiquities, monumental sites,
classical buildings, inscriptions and coins, which are considered as
national resources for all Iraqi people, which the central government, in
cooperation with regional administrations, are in charge of running them,
would make the Iraqi culture un-conserved, unprotected and unpreserved." He
demanded for amending the constitution draft to include this point.

Bahaa Al Araji, secretary of the constitution drafting committee, said that
the demand on behalf of the culture and tourism ministries for putting the
antiquities under the supervision of the central government is "inaccurate,
as the constitution does not refer to details but states basics."

He said that this issue was severally discussed. "At the end, it was agreed
to grant the competence of administering the antiquities, monumental
regions, museums, etc. to the regional authorities where these antiquities
lie within their borders, considering that they are within the competence of
these authorities in most of the constitutions of global federations."

Al Hayat