Remarks to the press by SRSG Mohamed Al Hassan following his meeting with His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Najaf

I had the honour, at the outset of assuming my duties as the United Nations Special Representative for the Secretary-General in Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), to meet with His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani. During this visit, which is my first to the holy city of Najaf, I listened to the wisdom of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani and his vision regarding the situation in Iraq and the region.

You all know the high regard and inestimable respect that His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani enjoys in the hearts of everyone, not only in Iraq, but in the Islamic world and the entire world.   

I am extremely grateful to His Eminence for this meeting. I gained much guidance, advice and perspectives, aimed at protecting and elevating the well-being of human beings and preserving their dignity wherever they are.

From my side, I conveyed the greetings of the Secretary-General to His Eminence and his wishes for continued good health, as well as his gratitude to His Eminence for his continued support for the United Nations and its role in assisting Iraq. I agreed with His Eminence to work jointly towards building on Iraq's regional and international standing as a founding Member of the United Nations and a force for security, stability and good neighborliness in the region.

We, in the United Nations, categorically reject any threat to the Marjaiya, in light of the symbolic significance and respect enjoyed in this country and throughout the world.

I expressed my gratitude for the continued support of His Eminence for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) over the last two decades. His advice is highly appreciated by me as it was by all my predecessors and assisted them in defining the support and guidance during some of the most difficult periods in the history of this country.

I stressed to His Eminence that the United Nations will not abandon Iraq and will continue to support the country on its path towards stability, sustainable development and respect for human rights in a way that preserves Iraq's standing. It is true that the role of UNAMI after 21 years has to a great extent been achieved and that UNAMI will cease its operations by the end of 2025, in accordance with the decision of the Security Council and at the request of the Government of Iraq. However, the UN’s presence in and support for Iraq will continue in the interests of this country and its people, through several programs and projects of a developmental, social and technical nature, in order to promote democracy and human rights and ensure respect for all Iraqis. I requested the advice of His Eminence on how to act together to provide the best support and expertise to Iraq in the coming years, to solidify the standing of this country, which contributed to shaping civilization of humankind.

In this context, His Eminence requested me to work closely with the Government of Iraq to achieve the priorities that maintain the stability of Iraq while protecting the rights of the Iraqi people, such that all Iraqis enjoy peace, security, stability and dignity.

His Eminence expects Iraq to strengthen its relations with all its neighbors and the wider international community, and for Iraq to play a pivotal positive role as a peacebuilder and a channel for regional cooperation and collaboration.

Iraq’s determination to serve as a force for peace and stability in a region beset by conflict, as well as a player in a world also challenged by conflict, is a goal that is in line with the Secretary-General’s efforts to build a more secure, stable and united world.

We are firmly committed to supporting Iraq's priorities, which are at the heart of our work in UNAMI and the United Nations as a whole. We are here to serve this country. We do not interfere in its internal affairs, but we provide advice and technical support at the request of Iraq.  We all strive in the service of this wonderful country in maintaining Iraq’s security and stability, and the prosperity of the Iraqi people.