THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- PRESS ENCOUNTER WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ, MOHAMMED SHIA AL-SUDANI

Dear Prime Minister, 

I want to thank you for the very, very warm hospitality that I received from the Government and people of Iraq. 

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, 

It is good to be in Baghdad once again. 

This land is home to so much history and culture, and so many contributions to humanity stretching back millennia.  

And in our time, we have witnessed the courage, fortitude and determination of the Iraqi people.

Iraqis have worked to overcome decades of violence, oppression, war, terrorism, sectarianism and foreign interference.

And today’s Iraq is unrecognizable from those times.

A country of increased peace and security.

And a country determined to keep climbing the development ladder.

I strongly congratulate the Iraqi people for these achievements.

Against all odds, the Iraqi people never wavered in your commitment to build a peaceful, inclusive society based on the rule of law and democratic institutions.

Prime Minister al-Sudani, on behalf of the United Nations, I extend my sincere congratulations to Iraq on its recent election.

I trust Iraqi institutions to help ensure a timely and peaceful government-formation process that reflects the will of the Iraqi people and their aspirations for stability and progress.

And I count on the new government to continue its efforts to build confidence and stability among all communities, and maintain its vigilance against terrorism – in which you Prime Minister have done a very important contribution.

And I once again express my appreciation for the government’s commitment to repatriate its citizens from northeast Syria — in particular, from the Al-Hol camp. It is a remarkable humanitarian achievement.

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet with some who had been repatriated — among 17,000 repatriated so far.

We must keep working for solutions that preserve people’s dignity across the repatriation and reintegration process.  

We also discussed the situation in Gaza, where the ceasefire must be respected, and the peace agreement must hold and pave the way for long-term political solutions.

The Palestinian people have suffered too much.

Now they need — and indeed the world needs — a credible political path towards ending the occupation, realizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and leading to a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.

Finally, we discussed an important milestone:  

The closing of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq — UNAMI.

Over the last 22 years, this special mission has acted with humility and determination to help Iraqis rebuild following decades of oppression, war and instability, fully respecting the principle of national ownership.

From advancing inclusive, political dialogue and reconciliation among the many groups who call Iraq home.

To supporting judicial and legal reforms, and promoting human, civil and political rights for minorities, women and girls.

To helping the government ensure the safe and dignified return of millions of internally displaced people.

To coordinating the humanitarian and development work of UN agencies, funds and programmes.

Our objective has always been to support the government of Iraq, to support the realization of elections as recently have happened. And to do it with strong commitment, but always respecting the ownership of the Iraqi people, of its process of development.

The two-decade long transition from dictatorship to democracy has been difficult and with a violent beginning — one that did not spare our UN mission here.

Shortly after its establishment in 2003, a terrorist attack targeted our headquarters at the Canal Hotel, killing 22 of our UN staff members and injuring over 100 more.

The date of this terrible attack — August 19 — is now commemorated as World Humanitarian Day, when we pay tribute to humanitarians everywhere.  

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

The United Nations is proud to have played a part in this period of Iraq’s history.

UNAMI’s contributions prove the valuable role of the United Nations in helping countries navigate political transitions, and build peace and stability.

And now that UNAMI is closing, many UN agencies, funds and specialized programmes will remain here, continuing their vital development work in support of Iraq and Iraqis.

But there is one thing the world must understand, Iraq is now a normal country, and relations between the UN and Iraq will become normal relations with the end of UNAMI.

And we look forward to building on the work of the last 22 years, and to stand with Iraqis to build the prosperous, stable and peaceful country all Iraqis deserve.

Thank you.