Iraq and Spain Discuss Cultural Cooperation in Baghdad

On March 11th, Dr Ali Ridha Al-Hamoud, Director General of the Administrative and Financial Affairs Department at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, met with the Spanish Ambassador to Iraq, Alicia Rico Pérez del Pulgar, in Baghdad. She was accompanied by Dr Inas Al-Yasiri, Advisor to the Speaker of Parliament.

During the meeting, Al-Hamoud welcomed the ambassador’s visit, describing it as a step towards strengthening cultural ties between Iraq and Spain. He highlighted Baghdad’s designation as the Arab Capital of Tourism, which has positioned the city as a hub for hosting diverse cultural events. He also spoke about Iraq’s rich historical and archaeological heritage, emphasising the significance of ancient sites such as the city of Ur, which has become a key destination for international tourists.

Ambassador Rico expressed Spain’s keen interest in expanding cultural cooperation with Iraq and proposed hosting an Iraqi-Spanish Cultural Week, inspired by the successful Iraqi-Qatari Cultural Week. She also announced that Baghdad will host Spanish Film Week in May, which aims to introduce Iraqi audiences to Spanish cinema and strengthen cultural exchange.

The ambassador praised the exhibitions at the Iraqi Museum, where she viewed artefacts and models representing Iraq’s ancient civilisations. She described her visit as an enriching experience and expressed admiration for Iraq’s deep-rooted cultural legacy.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue discussions and explore opportunities for further collaboration in the fields of culture, tourism, and heritage.

Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities