US troops hand over ''Baghdad Island'' amusement park to Iraqi authorties

Описание: (22 Jun 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Convoy of Iraqi officials driving into "Baghdad Island" amusement park, with mural on wall reading: (Arabic) "Welcome to Baghdad Island"
2. Wide of people working on park gardens, people walking past in foreground
3. Various top shots of park
4. Mid of tower, tilt down to US soldiers standing underneath tower
5. Pan of park
6. Wide of park
7. Various of US soldiers in park
8. Close of soldiers' equipment on ground
9. Various of US Army Lieutenant Colonel Scott Jackson and Iraqi Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Qahtan Aljbori cutting chain, tilt up to soldiers and officials applauding, Jackson and Aljbori shaking hands
10. Wide of Iraqi officials standing for national anthem, pan right
11. Wide of handover ceremony
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Brent Kinney, US Army Captain:
"The facility was often used for wedding parties, community celebrations and for arts and cultural events. Today the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in conjunction with 1-5 CAV and the 1st CAV Division have a renewed interest and are revitalising the Baghdad Island."
14. Cutaway of audience
15.SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr. Qahtan Aljbori, Iraqi Minister of Tourism and Antiquities:
"In cooperation with friends (US troops) we start the first stage of rehabilitating Baghdad Island. This island was and, God willing will be once again, one of the big and important amusement parks in our dear capital, Baghdad."
16. US soldier standing in front of boards with photographs
17. Mid of ceremony
18. Wide of park, two US soldiers
STORYLINE
A popular Iraqi amusement park looted after the 2003 US led invasion, has been handed back to Iraqi officials on Monday, after years of being closed.
US and Iraqi officials have begun renovating the amusement park, located on an island north of Baghdad.
It's the latest effort to restore a sense of normalcy amid security gains.
It also reflects a US focus on civil affairs projects before next week's deadline for combat troops to withdraw from cities.
The 150-acre Tigris River complex, based on a design by Frank Lloyd Wright, was a popular site for weddings and other celebrations.
It was devastated by looting after the invasion.
Iraq's minister of tourism and antiquities, Qahtan al-Jubouri, said at Monday's groundbreaking ceremony that the first stage of renovation has begun.
US civil affairs personnel are helping with the project.

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