IRAQ | Tourism & Archaeology

[Al-Hashimi]

It's a 58 km long coastline to be precise

We just need to retake Khuzestan. As far as I remember half of the population are Arabs and the region of Khuzestan was always part of ancient Iraq.

We should also make a union with Kuwait sometime in the future if possible.

[sheytanElKebir]

Originally Posted by Chounz

If we had Ahwaz all this wouldn't be a problem.


I say we negotiate some kind of deal with Iran in which they give us some 50 kilometres of coastal line... in return for something they may need off us?

give them diyala.

[Chounz]

Originally Posted by sheytanElKebir

give them diyala.

Noooo give them Sleimaniyah... I'd actually completely be up for it. seriously. Nothing Iraqi about that place. (As opposed to Arbil or Dohuk which are somewhat Iraqi) And it's definitely much less Iraqi than Khuzestan..

My great grandfather would be disappointed seeing me talk about his province like this but it's ohhhkaaayyyyy. ;D

[Al-Hashimi]

No way man. Diyala is a very beautiful province full of culture, life and beautiful landscapes.

It's also known as the agricultural capital of the Middle East due to it's very rich soil and wonderful fruits and vegetables.

Khuzestan will hopefully again be a part of Iraq like it was when it was part of the cradle of civilization (Sumeria, Akkadia, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Assyria etc.)

[Sinjar]

Originally Posted by Chounz

Noooo give them Sleimaniyah... I'd actually completely be up for it. seriously. Nothing Iraqi about that place. (As opposed to Arbil or Dohuk which are somewhat Iraqi)

So if it's not Iraqi it should go to Iran? NO WAY man

Originally Posted by Chounz

And it's definitely much less Iraqi than Khuzestan..

Agreed

[3ankabot]

Most of Irans oil (90 %) lies under Khuzestan (arabestan). They would never give it up. One can dream though.

[Sinjar]

Minaret Mosque in Samarra to be Restored

Posted on 20 August 2012 by John Lee.

The General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers has announced that it will form a committee headed by the Minister of Sciences and Technology Dr. Abdul-Kareem Al-Samarrai, to restore the Minaret Mosque in Samarra (pictured).
The Director of Samarra’ Endowments, the Director of the Province’s Antiquities, and the province’s Budget Director will also serve on the committee.
The work will include the reconstruction of floors and walls in accordance with UNESCO specifications.

[Sinjar]

Ancient Babylon To Be Restored For Tourists

Posted on 14 September 2012. Sources: BIAN

Babylon Province is to receive 100bn dinars ($85m) as it is named Iraq’s archaeological and historical capital.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki approved the funding for reconstructing historical sites, infrastracture and hotels. Ultimately, the goal is to attract tourists to the region, which hosts the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, where the Hanging Gardens were purported to have been.

Much of the ancient ruins were thoughtlessly rebuilt under Saddam Hussein, likely burying ancient artefacts.

Iraq has had plans to make the area a cultural center since 2006 and the site opened to tourists in 2009.

[Sinjar]

UNESCO to Protect Leaning Minaret

Posted on 27 September 2012 By John Lee. Source: UNESCO

UNESCO‘s Iraq Office and the Governorate of Ninewa signed an agreement to start a project under which UNESCO will carry out a complete set of studies to protect one of the region’s historical icons: Al Hadba Minaret.

After several meetings and an expert mission, UNESCO Iraq Director Mohamed Djelid met on Friday, 20 September 2012, with Ninewa Governor Aseel Abdel Aziz Al Nujaifi in the city of Erbil to sign the “Executive Cooperation Programme for the Study and Documentation for the stability and conservation of Al-Hadba Minaret”.

Under this project, UNESCO will undertake a comprehensive research of the materials, geological bedding and structural analysis during a 12 month period, before deciding on the type of treatment that should be applied. Main priority areas of intervention were identified following a visual inspection by a UNESCO expert during a site visit on June 2012.

Located in Mosul, Al Hadba minaret represents the most outstanding feature of the Great Nurid Mosque built in 1172. Leaning 253 cm off the perpendicular axe for several years, the Minaret suffers from serious structural weakness and it risks collapsing.

This conservation programme, the first of its kind in the region in 20 years, will guide the governorate of Ninewa and the city of Mosul to make the correct decisions and take suitable measures in order to protect the leaning minaret that has brought fame to the northern city.

[Sinjar]

Iraq refurbishes Ur in hope of Papal visit

By Basem al-Rikabi. Azzaman, September 24, 2012

Iraq is tidying up the remains of the ancient city of Ur in hope of a proposed visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Antiquities Inspectorate in the Province of Dhi Qar of which Naisiyra is the capital says it has started restoration activities in Ur.

Ur, the metropolitan of the Sumerian civilization that flourished in southern Iraq, is a short drive from Nasiriya.

According to Biblical tradition, Abraham was born and raised in Ur before departing to settle in Palestine.

Generations of archaeologists have excavated the city and the digs have yielded some of the world’s finest artifacts, particularly those salvaged from a royal cemetery.

Amer Al-Zubaidi the head of the inspectorate said the ancient city will be supplied with power and that electricity poles will light up the place at night.

“There will be restaurants and other recreations centers,” he said.

Iraq hopes to turn its ancient riches to attractions luring tourists the world over.

According to a five-year development plant – 2013-2017 – the country is keen to diversity its hard cash income and investment tourism as a major foreign cash earner.

A visit by the Pope will put Ur and Iraq into international limelight, said Zubaidi.

Iraqi officials say the Pope, who has just ended a historic visit to Lebanon, has accepted an official government invitation to visit Ur, but no date has been set yet.

The officials even said that the Vatican has agreed to spend millions of dollars to rehabilitate Ur in anticipation of the visit.

[Al-Hashimi]

Wonderful news Sinjar. Great job by the government. Insha'Allah all this will be done. Iraq deserves SO much better.

[Chounz]

Originally Posted by Sinjar

Iraq refurbishes Ur in hope of Papal visit

By Basem al-Rikabi. Azzaman, September 24, 2012

Iraq is tidying up the remains of the ancient city of Ur in hope of a proposed visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Antiquities Inspectorate in the Province of Dhi Qar of which Naisiyra is the capital says it has started restoration activities in Ur.

Ur, the metropolitan of the Sumerian civilization that flourished in southern Iraq, is a short drive from Nasiriya.

According to Biblical tradition, Abraham was born and raised in Ur before departing to settle in Palestine.

Generations of archaeologists have excavated the city and the digs have yielded some of the world’s finest artifacts, particularly those salvaged from a royal cemetery.

Amer Al-Zubaidi the head of the inspectorate said the ancient city will be supplied with power and that electricity poles will light up the place at night.

“There will be restaurants and other recreations centers,” he said.

Iraq hopes to turn its ancient riches to attractions luring tourists the world over.

According to a five-year development plant – 2013-2017 – the country is keen to diversity its hard cash income and investment tourism as a major foreign cash earner.

A visit by the Pope will put Ur and Iraq into international limelight, said Zubaidi.

Iraqi officials say the Pope, who has just ended a historic visit to Lebanon, has accepted an official government invitation to visit Ur, but no date has been set yet.

The officials even said that the Vatican has agreed to spend millions of dollars to rehabilitate Ur in anticipation of the visit.

Great so we'll be having aluminium cladded buildings right next to ancient Ur...

[SumerianKing]

Wtf....... 6EEYAZA, Do they know that only less then 10% of babylon has been excavated? And dont let me get started about UR, maybe less then 5%?? Theres a chance that we can unearth something amazing. (We can currently have the biggest excavation works happening in the world!!) Bearing in mind Alexander the great died in Babylon, do you know what this means if we find his grave?

[Al-Hashimi]

They will probably have that in mind before anything happens, at least they better do that. It would be a crime otherwise. But the articles posted by Sinjar are good news. Let's celebrate that.

[Sinjar]

Iraqis remember the royal past


Memorabilia are displayed during a private exhibition in Baghdad on Friday, Oct. 5, retracing the life of Iraq's King Faisal I and his successors, son King Ghazi I and grandson King Faisal II.(AFP)

BAGHDAD, October 9, 2012- AFP

Iraqis are now able to open a window onto the past showing a country that was once ruled by royalty during a period of relative calm in its turbulent history.

Cars — including one sent by Adolf Hitler — carriages and photos of the Iraqi royal family are displayed in a courtyard and a building on Baghdad's historic Mutanabi Street, the first time they have all been shown together.

Hundreds of visitors have been admiring the two cars on display, including the silver 1936 Mercedes convertible Hitler presented to King Ghazi, the second king of Iraq.

One of the kind

It is one of just three cars of its kind made: Hitler himself had one, and the third belonged to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

A Rolls Royce that was also a gift to King Ghazi is also on display, as are two carriages made in Britain and gifted by the British royal family to Faisal II, the last king of Iraq.

"This exhibition gives visitors glimpses of an important phase in the modern history of Iraq that lasted for almost 40 years," said Adil al-Ardawi, an Iraqi historian.

He said that the royal family was unjustly tre ated, and that "this exhibition uncovers all the details of the lifestyle of this family in its simplicity and modesty... as the photos show."

Iraq's story

Iraq's monarchy met a bloody end on July 14, 1958, when Brigadier General Abdul Karim Qassem led a coup in which most members of the royal family were executed along with other high-ranking government officials.

Dictator Saddam Hussein came to power 21 years later, leading Iraq into a bloody eight-year war with Iran, then a disastrous 1990 invasion of Kuwait that ended when his forces were pushed out the following year.

Iraq was hit by sanctions over the invasion, causing widespread privation.

US-led invasion

Saddam was overthrown in a 2003 US-led invasion, but the country suffered a wave of bombings and death squad killings in the following years.

The exhibition features hundreds of photographs showing details from the lives of the royal family, notably King Faisal II.

Among the items on show are a wooden cabinet topped by a royal crown, which holds a set of silver and glass cups decorated with depictions of royal family members.

Small statues of King Faisal I and Faisal II are also displayed, as are drawings of airplanes and cars made by Faisal II when he was still a child.

Good old days

"The day King Faisal II was crowned king of Iraq, I remember that he came to our neighbourhood (in north Baghdad) and he was in one of the two cars shown here, and I remember well that he was giving us money," said one visitor who did not give his name.

"The presence of a king who looks after the rights of the people and forms a parliament was a new beginning in the lives of Iraqis, but after the death of the king and the establishment of the republic, Iraq did not see anything but wars and catastrophe."AFP

[Al-Hashimi]

Already posted in a different thread I think, akhi Sinjar.

Nevertheless a good article. Would love to see that exhibition.

[Sinjar]

where akhi?

[Sinjar]

البصرة تفتتح مكاتب سياحية لتطوير المنافذ الحدودية وتستثمر قصور صدام

17/10/ 2012

شفق نيوز/ كشفت محافظة البصرة، الأربعاء، عن افتتاحها مكاتب سياحية في المنافذ الحدودية، فيما اكد مجلس البصرة وجود اتفاق مع شركات متخصصة لاستثمار القصور الرئاسية التي كانت تابعة للنظام السابق في الجانب السياحي.

وقال مستشار محافظ البصرة لشؤون النقل طاهر كباشي لـ"شفق نيوز" إنه "تم افتتاح مكاتب سياحية في المنافذ الحدودية لتنشيط عملها والارتقاء بالجانب السياحي وقد تم البدء بتنفيذ هذه الخطة بافتتاح مركزين سياحيين احدهما في مطار البصرة الدولي والآخر في منفذ سفوان الحدودي".

واوضح "سوف يتم شمول جميع المنافذ الحدودية بفتح مكاتب سياحية فيها".

واضاف كباشي انه "بعد زيارة وزير السياحة والأثار الى محافظة البصرة تم الاتفاق معه على تنشيط الجانب السياحي واتخاذ خطوات فعالة للشروع بتحريك عجلة السياحة في البصرة التي تمتلك الكثير من المقومات لنجاح الجانب السياحي وفي مقدمتها السياحة الدينية والسياحة النهرية بالاضافة اللى تحسين المواقع الآثارية في المدينة" .

وعلى صعيد ذي صلة اكد رئيس لجنة السياحة والآثار في مجلس محافظة البصرة زهرة البجاري لـ"شفق نيوز" قرب الوصول الى اتفاق مع شركات متخصصة في الجانب السياحي لاستثمار القصور الرئاسية وفتحها امامم المواطنين والسياح لتكون فعللاً قصوراً للشعب وداعمة للاقتصاد الوطني".

وبين ان "هذه القصور ستتحول الى معالم حضارية وعمرانية تضاف الى معالم البصرة".

واوضح ان "مجلس محافظة البصرة كان قد رفض مقترحاً للحكومة الاتحادية يقضي بتخصيص القصور الرئاسية كمحل اقامة للمسؤولين انطلاقاً من الشعور بأن الشعب البصري هو المالك الاصلي لهذه القصور ويجب ان تكون مفتوحة امام الاهالي ولا يتم حصرها بفئة معينة" .

وكانت القصور الرئاسية في محافظة البصرة 550 كم جنوب العاصمة العراقية بغداد قد بنيت من قبل رأس النظام السابق لتكون مقراً ترفيهياً للمسؤولين أبان فترة الثمانينيات من القرن الماضي قبل ان تتخذها القوات البريطانية مقراً لقيادة العمليات العسكرية بعد عام 2003.

واتخذها رئيس الوزراء العراقي مركزاً لقيادة عمليات حملته العسكرية المعروفة بصولة الفرسان عام 2008 وهي الان معروضة كفرصة استثمارية من قبل وزارة السياحة والآثار.

هـ ل / ك هـ/ م ج

[VmR]

How is the weather in Erbil in December? Rains, snows?

[Sinjar]

Originally Posted by VmR

How is the weather in Erbil in December? Rains, snows?

It gets really cold in the winter where the temperature can be close to 0° Celsius. It rains and snows most in the winter. I can't say how much though..
I think the best time to visit Erbil would be in the spring.