New York: The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington announced today the recovery of three rare artifacts from New York.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the embassy stated in a statement that the artifacts, which date back to the Sumerian and Babylonian civilizations, were recovered in a new step towards protecting cultural heritage. This achievement highlights the tireless diplomatic efforts to safeguard Iraq’s cultural legacy.

The embassy added that the recovery operation was conducted in cooperation with the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the New York State Attorney General’s Office. This step underscores Iraq’s firm commitment to retrieving its looted antiquities and returning them to their original homeland.

The official handover ceremony took place in New York, where the receipt document was signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States, Nizar Al-Khairallah, and the Head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Matthew Bogdanos. The embassy emphasized that this step is the result of meticulous coordination between the two parties, reflecting the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking of antiquities.

The embassy further stressed that this operation is just one phase in an ongoing process of collaboration with American authorities and academic and cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to recover more Iraqi treasures smuggled over the past decades. The recovery of these pieces will contribute to preserving Iraq’s historical memory and reflect the pride of Iraqis and the world in this unique human heritage.