Minister of Foreign Affairs meets the Secretary General at the headquarters of the United Nations

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein has met the Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres at the headquarters of the United Nations to discuss the updates on the situation in Iraq and the region.

Mr Hussein extended Iraq’s thanks to the United Nations for its support in various areas and the efforts exerted in Baghdad; and the aids it offers to the displaced families and the amenities to strengthen security and enhance stability in Iraq.

He looked for a bigger role for the United Nations in the efforts of reconstructing the infrastructure of the Iraqi cities and returning the Iraqi displaced people to their areas of residence.

Mr Hussein also added: we look forward to a bigger role of the United Nations in the efforts of reconstructing the infrastructures of the Iraqi cities and bringing back the Iraqi displaced to their areas of residence.

The Minister commended the role of the United Nations Organisation and the Security Council in supporting the electoral process in Iraq, implying that the political parties are intensifying dialogues to form the new government and providing the necessary atmospheres to maintain the constitutional timings. He referred to the approval of the Federal Supreme Court on the final results of the election of the Iraqi House of Representatives in 2021, where the aforementioned court has issued its decision on the constitutionality of the first session of the Iraqi parliament held on 9 December 2022, which resulted in electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives and its Deputies.

He touched upon Iraq’s relations with the neighbouring countries, as well as, the Gulf countries, and affirmed the current policy of Iraq which is based on the principle of dialogue; communication; establishing good and balanced relationships to resolve the outstanding problems; and avoiding using hard power which complicates the solutions and threatens the regional security.

In return, the Secretary General of the United Nations has extended his congratulations to Iraq and welcomed the adoption of the Security Council the resolution No. (2621) on 22 February 2022 and voting unanimously on the resolution.

The Secretary General has affirmed: we are obliged to provide a full support for Iraq and we highly appreciate its role in bridging the gaps between the surrounding regional countries and inviting opponents to one table as the case in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership. The Secretary General wished that the Iraqi Government carries on this fruitful foreign policy; creating atmospheres of dialogue between the countries; and practises its pivotal role in the region.

At the conclusion, the Secretary General has expressed his strong intention to visit Iraq.

For his part, the Foreign Minister has expressed his pleasure in meeting the Secretary General in Baghdad to review the situation in Iraq by himself and the changes occurred; the Iraqi people are welcoming this visit.