Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fouad Hassan expressed Iraq’s aspiration for more international support to confront terrorism.
A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs received, today, Sunday, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs and Peace building, Rosemary Di Carlo, accompanied by Jeanine Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
During the meeting, the Minister expressed his gratitude for the role played by the United Nations in Iraq through its support for the democratic process, stressing Iraq’s aspiration for more international support to confront terrorism, and possible international assistance to respond to the necessary emergency humanitarian needs to enhance its capabilities.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed to the possibility of the Iraqi government to achieve success despite the presence of security challenges inside the country, which reflects a positive situation and development in the political process in Iraq, stressing the importance of the international role in providing assistance and advice, especially that Iraq still needs expertise and assistance from the United Nations, which can achieve a qualitative change, adding that the Iraqi government is keen to implement the government program by preparing a program that secures the needs of Iraqi society in rebalancing and confronting terrorism, in addition to taking important decisions that are in the interest of the Iraqi citizen.
Regarding the security file, the Minister explained that the security aspect is good at the present time, and this does not mean that there are no security challenges, but that a fundamental improvement has occurred in reality, indicating that dealing with the current challenges with the Turkish and Iranian side in this regard is done with higher diplomacy, especially since there are many historical, cultural commonalities and social events bring us together, stressing the need to follow the language of dialogue in finding a way out of these crises.”
The Minister discussed the Iraqi government’s concern about the stagnation of the Iranian nuclear agreement, pointing to the need to revive this file, despite the fact that the region is witnessing less tension than before, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The two sides discussed the developments of the Russian-Ukrainian war, as the Minister stressed the possibility of the contact group emanating from the Arab League, with the participation of Iraq, in playing a positive role in resolving this crisis, and taking the initiative, stressing the need for the initiative to be under the umbrella of the United Nations in reducing Russian-Ukrainian tension.
The two sides also discussed the effects of climate change and water scarcity in Iraq, and the Minister indicated Iraq’s keenness to participate with a high-level delegation in the water summit to be held in New York next March.
For her part, Rose Carlo congratulated the Minister and the Iraqi government on Iraq’s victory in the Gulf 25 Championship, which was held in Basra Governorate, stressing the importance of the tournament, which reflected solidarity and national unity in Iraqi society, and renewed the United Nations’ support for the unity of Iraq’s land and people, its security, stability and territorial integrity, and standing with Iraq in its battle against all forms of terrorism.
The UN official also stressed the commitment of the United Nations to assisting Iraq in facing security challenges, especially since Iraq has a lot of capabilities to face these challenges, whether security or economic, and it is still an essential partner of the United Nations.
Carlo noted the importance of strengthening the language of dialogue in the Gulf region and the Middle East, in light of the tension hanging over the region, in addition to the stalemate in relations among the countries of the region, as dialogue would enhance security and stability and reflect positively on relations among the countries regionally.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency