Thursday, March 28, 2024

Baghdad

Artists, Activists criticize Culture Ministry for its contract with Rotana

Artists, Activists criticize Culture Ministry for its contract with Rotana

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) A number of the Iraqi cultivated figures and the artists criticized contract which is to be concluded by the Ministry of Culture with the media group of Rotana to organize the events of the Festival of Baghdad the Capital of Arab Culture with about fund of 20-30 million USD.

The story-writer, Kadhim al-Jamasi, stated to IraqiNews.com “Since 2003, the Iraqi situation has been confusing and disappointing for the Iraq citizen who was dreaming of safe and prosperous future.”

“The reason behind this is the corruption spread every where within the Iraqi State,” he added.

“The project of Baghdad the Capital of Arab Culture in 2013 also to involve corruption by concluding such contract with this huge fund between the Ministry of Culture and Rotana group,” he mentioned.

He stressed “This huge fund is supposed to be allocated to rehabilitating the cultural facilities in Baghdad to be prepared for such event.”

The civil activist and media specialist, Suad al-Jazairi, mentioned “Iraq has unique media institutions and cadres that surpass the regional institutions and that is why it is strange to see the Culture Ministry concluding such contract with Rotana.”

“Iraq does not lack the professional figures who can run this festival perfectly,” she continued.

“Concluding such contract indicate corruption as we know in Iraq that with every contract there is a commission behind the scenes,” she emphasized, assuring that “We will know how much this commission is later.”

For his part, the former Minister of Culture, Mufeed al-Jazairi, confirmed “The fund allocated for the contract to be concluded with media group of Rotana, which belongs to the Saudi prince, Waleed bin Talal, to organize the events of the Festival of Baghdad the Capital of Arab Culture is exaggerated.”

Speaking to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com), he said “The celebration of these events must be done only by Iraqi cultivated figures as it should involve performing plays, music and the like.”

“Iraq has many qualified people who have their arts and genius to assume this task,” he assured.

“The fund allocated for this contract is exaggerated and better to be spent on developing the Iraqi cultural sites that suffer from negligence,” he concluded.

Earlier, The Media and Culture Parliamentary Committee directed an official order to the Ministry of Culture to clarify the truth regarding its agreement with the media group of Rotana, which belongs to the Saudi prince Waleed bin Talal, to organize the events of the Festival of Baghdad the Capital of Arab Culture.

The chairman of the committee, Ali al-Shalah, stated to IraqiNews.com “Iraq has potentials in organizing celebrations and festivals and we just do not understand why the Ministry of Culture hired the Rotana Media Group to assume the events of Baghdad Festival,” stressing that “The Cultural Parliamentary Committee will strongly oppose this agreement since we do not need such companies.”

He added “The allocated funds for the festival would better go to Iraqi companies to assume this task rather than any other sides,” noting that “The agreement stipulates to pay USD (30) million to Rotana Media Group for organizing the festival.”

He pointed out “We hope that this news is incorrect and the committee sent an official decree to the Minister of Culture to question over this matter in particular.”

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