UNESCO Iraq Experts Visit Kerkuk Citadel

The Citadel in the Turkmen city of Kerkuk

©UNAMI

UNESCO and UNAMI during their visit to Kerkuk Citadel on 30 March 2010

Two days of meetings were organized with local experts including the head of the Kirkuk Directorate of Antiquities, Mr. Ayad Tariq Hussein, a Turkmen, who organized a visit to the Citadel on the second day of the mission, giving the delegation a personalized tour of the site where Mr. Hussein spent his childhood

http://www.unesco.org/en/iraq-office/single-view/news/unesco_iraq_experts_visit_kirkuk_citadel/back/9623/cHash/d1cbd07967/

A delegation from the UNESCO Iraq office visited Kirkuk Citadel from 28-31 March 2010 in support of local efforts to seek placement of the Kirkuk Citadel on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

From 28-31 March 2010, a three-person team from UNESCO Iraq visited Kirkuk at the invitation of Governor Abdulrahman M. Fatah to assess local cultural sites, including the renowned Kirkuk Citadel. During the official visit, the Governor cited the Citadel’s 2600-year history and its links to all those who live in Kirkuk as two reasons why the site deserves consideration. “The Citadel represents the peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups in Kirkuk and includes sites of historical significance like the burial places of the Prophets Daniel , Haneen and Ozer” said Governor Fatah.

Two days of meetings were organized with local experts including the head of the Kirkuk Directorate of Antiquities, Ayad Hussein, who organized a visit to the Citadel on the second day of the mission, giving the delegation a personalized tour of the site where Mr. Hussein spent his childhood.

UNESCO’s Culture Programme Specialist Tamara Teneishvili laid out an initial plan of action and encouraged the local authorities and experts to prepare for a process that could take several years. “No matter the outcome, the Citadel will benefit,” said Ms Teneishvili, “because the process requires the implementation of plans and procedures that should raise local efforts to protect the Citadel to an international standard.”

Among the highlights of the visit to the Citadel was the final stop atop earthen towers, mud brick sentries standing guard over an old gate that were uncovered during excavations in 1997. Ms. Teneishvili indicated these towers would require further investigation into their historical significance.

Local authorities are pulling together documents to support the development of a workplan, which will include coordinating with the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in Baghdad, which has overall authority in these matters. UNESCO-Iraq’s Baghdad Officer in Charge, George Papagiannis, led the delegation, which also included National Program Officer in Kurdistan Sami al-Khoja. Mr. Papagiannis said support from Deputy Governor Rakan S. Al-Jeboori and Chairman of the Provincial Council Rizgar Ali Hamajan showed the universality of this effort in Kirkuk and would be an advantage.

In addition the UNAMI office in Kirkuk, headed by Stephanie Koury, provided invaluable assistance to achieving the mission’s objectives.

Iraq currently has three sites on the World Heritage List: Hatra, Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat) and Samara Archaeological City.

For more information visit: http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/iq.
And for more on UNESCO in Iraq, visit: http://www.unesco.org/en/iraq-office/.