Al-Sudani and Guterres discuss ending the UNAMI mission in Iraq
Al-Sudani and Guterres discuss ending the UNAMI mission in Iraq
2024-05-26 05:04
Shafaq News/ Today, Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani received a phone call from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and they exchanged views on ending UNAMI’s mission in the country.
Al-Sudani’s office said in a statement, received by Shafaq News Agency, that during the call, the relationship between Iraq and the international organization was discussed, and aspects of cooperation in various fields and programs, especially those related to confronting climate challenges and reducing their impacts, and the tasks of enhancing and managing water.
According to the statement, the phone call discussed the situation in Gaza and the consequences of the continued aggression against defenseless civilians facing the crime of genocide. Al-Sudani reiterated to the Secretary-General the need for the major powers and international organizations to carry out their humanitarian, moral and legal duty to stop the aggression, protect our Palestinian people and guarantee their historical rights.
He stated that the call touched on Iraq’s message regarding the timings of ending the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq/UNAMI, the timings of reducing the levels of personnel in the mission, and ways of bilateral coordination in this path.
During the call, Al-Sudani expressed the government’s appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations and its mission in Iraq, praising the programs and contributions made by the international organization during various stages, and its keeping pace with the challenges faced by our Iraqi people at various levels, which provided assistance to our people on the path of democratic construction, reconstruction, development, and recovery. From the effects of terrorism and dictatorship.
Earlier today, Al-Sudani met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Jeanine Plasschaert, on the occasion of the end of her work duties.
During the meeting, Al-Sudani attributed the reason for his government’s request from the Security Council to end the work of the United Nations Mission (UNAMI) in Iraq to the “political and security stability” the country is witnessing.
The Iraqi government recently asked the United Nations to end by the end of 2025 its political mission that it has been performing in the country for more than 20 years, considering that it is “no longer necessary given its achievement of significant progress towards stability,” according to a letter addressed to the UN Security Council.
But some critics worry about the stability of Iraq’s emerging democracy due to recurring conflicts in the country and the presence of many heavily armed political groups.
Some diplomats and United Nations officials are also concerned about human rights and accountability in a country that is ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world.
Iraq’s request coincides with a similar request from the Somali government to end the work of a United Nations political mission.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is a special political mission established in 2003 under UN Security Council Resolution 1500, at the request of the Government of Iraq, and its role expanded significantly in 2007 under Resolution 1770.
With the beginning of its work in Iraq, the mission was subjected to a terrorist bombing at its headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad in August 2003, which destroyed it and killed 23 employees, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Sergio de Mello, while more than 100 others were injured.
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