Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture is responsible for overseeing a wide variety of areas concerning entertainment and the heritage of the Iraqi people. Along with overseeing archeological sites and museums, the ministry oversees cinema, theater, fine arts, fashion, publishing and dance.
The ultimate shape and management of the Ministry will be determined by the Iraqi people. Until then an interim steering committee is overseeing theministry. The steering committee is made up of a six-person board of respected academics and cultural experts. This interim body is working with a number of sub-committees to address the areas of rebuilding, personnel, finance, legal issues, and tasking.
Having concluded his six-month mission as "Minister" for Culture of the provisory coalition government in Iraq, Ambassador Pietro Cordone returned to Italy in October 2003. Cordone, the only non-Anglo/American "Minister" of the coalition, made a decisive contribution to the reconstruction of Iraq in the cultural sector, achieving results that have been acknowledged by everyone. The responsibility with which he was charged is proof of our country's commitment in Iraq, where many Italian experts continue to operate in priority sectors. Ambassador Cordone has been replaced by another Italian diplomat, Ambassador Mario Bondioli Osio who, until a few days ago, chaired the Italian commission for the recovery of stolen artworks, as confirmation of Italy's continuing commitment to the reconstruction of Iraq.
"With the Tigris and the Euphrates, the marshes and forests of palm trees, and the archaeological sites of ancient Mesopotamia and holy Shiite cities, Iraq should be counted among the premier tourist destinations in the world," according to Rauf al-Ansari, coordinator general of Iraq's tourism office. "All of these assets should allow us to reach 10 million tourists in the coming years," he adds, ignoring the chaotic realities on the ground such as daily attacks on US forces, carjackings, looting, kidnappings and a Baghdad airport still closed to civilian traffic. Despite the official optimism, the director general of private Iraqi tourism firm Land of Dreams, Hilal Shawkat, estimated that the relaunch of touristic activity in Iraq needs at least five billion dollars in investment.
EGYPT'S tourism sector, the country's top hard currency earner, was hard hit in the attack on Iraq. Tourism receipts were expected to drop to $2.25 billion, down from $3.8 in 2002 and $4.3 billion in 2000, Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui told a gathering organised by the German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GACIC). The sector, which provides over two million direct and indirect jobs, according to a study by the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies (ECES), will also witness tourist nights dropping by 40 per cent from 32.7 million nights in 2002 to about 20 million nights. El-Beltagui said at a press conference at the International Tourism Exchange in Berlin (ITB), however, that any drop in tourism will be temporary if the conflict is over quickly. He also said that despite fears of an imminent war on Iraq, tourism had been doing well since the beginning of 2003. Nearly five million tourists are estimated to have visited Egypt last year -- an 11.6 per cent growth rate over the year before. the tourism sector runs 19 offices abroad, ostensibly to mount promotional campaigns, take part in fairs and exhibitions, conduct market studies, and to promote the image of Egypt abroad as one of the world's prime tourist spots. Tourism committee of the Egyptian Businessmen's Association has backed up ministry efforts by compiling a comprehensive report on the problems facing tourism.
Goals of the Ministry
In the short term the interim ministry is working on issuing salaries to all employees of the Ministry, finding a new ministry headquarters and securing antiquities. Longer term goals are the return of looted goods from museums and sites, a complete assessment of national treasures and the rebuilding of museums and libraries damaged by the war and neglect.
Emergency payments have been given to most employees of the ministry. The steering committee is finalizing a list of employees so that salaries will be paid. Until a permanent site for the Ministry of Culture is constructed, a temporary headquarters has been designated. The Iraqi Fashion House is being worked on by engineers to make it ready.
Departments within the Ministry
- Tourism
- Cinema
- Publishing
- Publishing
- Fine Arts
- Music
- Poetry
- Sculpture
- Kurdish Folklore
- The Iraqi House of Fashion
- National Library
- Museums
- Antiquities and Heritage
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