As part of the mission in Iraq, some courses have just been completed between the Iraqi capital and Erbil Cultural Heritage Protection (CHP) conducted by the personnel of the Arma dei Carabinieri of the Police Task Force Iraq, framed in the Italian military contingent of the operation First Parthica.
From Italy, present in Iraq from the 2003 (Baghdad - Nassyria), specialized personnel of the Cultural Heritage Protection Command, a department known for the specific activities of protection and recovery of cultural heritage both in Italy and abroad.
In 2018 the staff of the Task Force Unite For Heritage - U4H, better known as Blue Helmets of Culture, has conducted 15 training courses in Iraq, training over 400 units from the local police and security forces and from civil offices and departments that deal with the specific subject.
Since 2016, 7 cultural heritage protection courses have been held in Erbil, hosted by various departments of the Ministry of Interior, the regional police and other public institutions, such as the Saladdhin University or the Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and cultural heritage.
The training activities, organized over two weeks for a total of 10 days of lessons, participated, among other things, over 25 women some of which already employed in public structures dedicated to cultural heritage or at the university departments concerned.
As demonstrated on the occasion of the end-of-course ceremonies, in which certificates of attendance were delivered to the participants, the local and international personalities who attended showed great interest in these important training activities, expressing their warmest thanks to Italy and its different components deployed within this mission.
During the lessons, topics such as the rules on the international circulation of cultural heritage (illegal export and smuggling), the transnational agreements and agreements that establish the methods for returning to the country of origin, the national regulations concerning the prohibition of archaeological excavations without authorization, the obligation to declare discovery, the founding principles of the concept of national and world cultural heritage and the methods of investigative assistance.
The precious activity of the Italian military, in a broader sense, helps to increase awareness of the wealth of their country in Iraq by protecting the cultural heritage of what is universally known as the "Land of Civilization".
