Briefing by SRSG Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan at the 9803rdmeeting of the UN Security Council | 06 December 2024

I have the honor to present this briefing, which is the first before your esteemed Council, since I assumed the position of Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. I would like to thank and appreciate all of you, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait for the confidence granted, for which I hope to be worthy. 

I will start by saying, as you have heard many times by now, today’s Iraq is not the same as the Iraq of twenty years ago, or even five years ago. Despite the many obstacles, Iraq today is more secure, stable and open. I am confident that this country, deeply rooted in history and the cradle of human civilization, is capable of overcoming crises and facing challenges towards forging a more secure, bright and hopeful future. 

Since the last briefing presented before your esteemed Council in May by my colleague Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who I would like to commend for all her sincere efforts, there have been a number of positive developments, some of which I had the opportunity to witness myself, the most prominent of which are as follows: 

A major milestone was the successful conduct of the national census on 20 November of this year, which I had the opportunity to watch together with the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. This was the first nationwide, comprehensive census to include the Kurdistan Region since 1987. Preliminary results indicate that Iraq’s population has almost doubled in just over three decades, reaching more than 45 million people. Decision makers will now be able to plan based on reliable facts and figures.

Dear Colleagues, 

Another key development, after a year of vacancy and various unsuccessful attempts, was the election of a new Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq on 31st October. An important step taken to foster parliamentary dialogue on legislations, which was urgently needed to address the needs and aspirations of the Iraqi people.

Committed to improve services, PM of Iraq Al-Sudani continues to invest heavily in major infrastructure projects throughout Iraq. These include constructions and development of roads, bridges, schools and transportation networks, which are geared at improving services and creating opportunities and improving the lives of the Iraqi people.

In a region that is “on fire”, Iraq’s Government has shown strong resolve to keep the country out of the widening regional conflicts, while standing firm as a strong voice for regional peace and stability. PM of Iraq Al-Sudani has consistently called for an end to regional tensions, stressing the need for respect of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Looking beyond the current conflicts, the Government of Iraq is also striving to position itself as a vital corridor for transportation, energy, and trade, leveraging regional partnerships. Such initiatives underscore Iraq’s efforts to foster regional integration and prosperity. 

Positive progress was also made in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. After two years of protracted negotiations and delays, parliamentary elections took place in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, thus re-establishing the legitimacy of the Region’s institutions. On 20 October I witnessed first-hand in Erbil and Dohuk, well organized and smooth voting operations in some of the more than 7,000 polling stations.

With more than two million people casting their votes, voters’ turnout reached 72%, an increase of 12% over the previous elections. UNAMI’s electoral assistance has been widely recognized by regional and federal authorities, including the Independent High Electoral Commission; a support which was instrumental in instilling trust and strengthening Iraq’s technical capacities for elections. Something the United Nations should be very proud of.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Iraq, the United Nations, and the UNAMI electoral staff for the dedicated efforts.

Important to note also, that out of the 100 parliamentary seats, women managed to secure 31 seats, which is more than the minimum quota of 30%. As negotiations among political parties for the formation of the new regional government in Kurdistan are underway, political parties have a responsibility to enable women’s access to political positions and a seat at the table for them.

Meanwhile, the visit of the PM of Iraq Al- Sudani to Erbil following the elections was an important step towards promoting joint dialogue to address the many important issues between the two sides.

Mr. President,

Dear colleagues,

These are all positive developments but tempered by the threat posed by persistent and systemic corruption despite the government’s efforts to address them. While public debate on corruption is frequent in Iraq, and politicians engage widely on the topic, the issue continues to prevail in Iraq’s socio-economic life. The country does require comprehensive changes and reforms that will bolster accountability, promote competency, improve transparency, and fortify governance systems. I fully trust that the government is taking promising steps in this direction.

And while strengthening state institutions to tackle corruption is crucial, bolstering state institutions, promoting and supporting human rights are all the more important in a country that is moving away from its dark past. It requires strong institutions that safeguard the people’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

Considering the critical role of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights - Iraq’s constitutionally mandated national human rights institution - the selection of a new Board of Commissioners, regrettably is still pending.

Iraq’s constructive engagement with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial discrimination in August was a positive step. What is important now is for Iraq to implement the Committee’s recommendations, a critical step to strengthen the protection of Iraq’s rich diversity. I am truly confident and a strong believer in Iraq’s ability to do so.

Mr. President,

Dear colleagues,

An issue that has generated a lot of public debate and international attentions are the proposed amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law. This is a significant undertaking that could have far-reaching implications for women and children. We have extensively engaged with Iraqi stakeholders, emphasizing the need for a constructive and inclusive dialogue on this issue; we further stressed that any reforms to the Personal Status Law should be in alignment with Iraq’s international human rights commitments and obligations, and I’m confident, also, in the Iraq’s ability to do so.

In a country seeking to heal from internal conflicts and terrorism, at the heart of the matter lies the crucial question of justice and accountability. Amendments to the general amnesty law are currently being debated in the Council of Representatives of Iraq. Provisions for amnesty can be a pathway to promote reconciliation and redress the grievances of those unjustly imprisoned. To be clear, those responsible for the atrocities should be brought to justice. At the same time, justice should be delivered in a fair and proportionate manner.

The impact of Da’esh, Mr. President and dear colleagues, in Iraq is unfortunately still visible in the camps hosting thousands of displaced persons, the majority of whom are Yazidis. I have myself witnessed first-hand the harsh living conditions which those people continue to endure and live through. This is unacceptable. It is unacceptable for Iraq, Iraq can do better, Iraq is capable of treating its citizens and its people in a better environment. I am fully certain that Iraq will be able to provide better living conditions for those who are victims in the first place. My heart and solidarity go to the Yazidis and others who are displaced for so many years. They deserve better.

The Prime Minister’s decision to establish a National High Committee, in consultation with the United Nations, to tackle the issue of displacement is a step in the right direction. It is, however, not enough. The state needs to invest concretely in creating the conditions for the return of displaced; Yazidis and others. Four years after its signature, the Sinjar agreement has yet to be fully implemented. As said before, a unified administration in Sinjar and stable security structures are the only way to create conducive conditions for the returnees.

And let us not forget that the Iraqi citizens still in Al Hol Camp in northeast Syria. Iraq is but one of the very few countries exerting commendable efforts for the repatriation of their own citizens. I saw for myself the support provided by the Government of Iraq, UN agencies and partners, to the thousands of people who are returning to Iraq, a safe Iraq, after a prolonged period of displacement and suffering. More though needs to be done to accelerate the return of the people from the hell- like conditions in Al Hol. We have renewed commitment from the Iraqi government and institutions to repatriate Iraqi citizens from Al Hol and other camps in Northeast Syria, hopefully before end of 2025.

That said, any other country with nationals in Al Hol bears the same duty to act and take back their citizens.

Mr. President, Robert,

Distinguished colleagues

Ladies and gentlemen

Since assuming my post, my colleagues and I have been striving to build trust and strengthen bilateral relations between Iraq and Kuwait. Therefore, we have encouraged the resumption of negotiations and communications between the two brotherly neighbors on the demarcation of the maritime border beyond marker 162. We also expressed willingness of UNAMI and the entire UN to provide their services should both sides choose to avail themselves.

On the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals, UNAMI has continued to participate as observer in the work of the Tripartite mechanism chaired by the ICRC. After more than three decades, there is clearly a need for more sincere efforts to identify and excavate potential burial sites, according to agreed mechanisms. This is the main demand of the families of the missing persons who are awaiting to know the fate of their loved ones, an issue of paramount importance to the leadership, government and people of Kuwait. We hope to see a real and tangible effort on that file by those concerned. We call for expediting the search for, and return of, missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, in order to close that chapter, allowing the two neighbors to move to cooperation. It is necessary here to refer to the decision of the Iraqi Federal Court issued in 2023, which was extremely unfortunate and seriously damaged the Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations. In this context, I would like to refer to the fact that we are working closely with the competent, responsible and concerned entities in Iraq to regain the trust between Iraq and Kuwait. We hope that those concerned in Iraq will be able, as soon as possible, to correct the path in an ideal manner that is worthy of the ties that bind the two brotherly countries.

A few last words on UNAMI’s transition and liquidation plan as requested by resolution 2732(2024). While UNAMI continues to ensure the delivery of its mandate, we are working closely with the Government of Iraq, the UN country team and UN Headquarters to finalize the plan for submission to this august Council by 31 December 2024.

Together with the UN country team, the Mission is also taking steps to enable the transfer of relevant tasks into the forthcoming Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Iraq.

I take this opportunity to stress to this Council the importance of allocating UNAMI’s full budget for 2025. This is too crucial in order to enable the Mission to deliver its mandate and carry out its transition and drawdown process as smoothly as possible and according to the time frame set out by resolution 2732.

In conclusion, Mister President, and I am sorry If I have talked at length,

I would like to point out that I have no doubt that the leaders of Iraq are fully aware of the challenges facing their country and the steps they must take to distance their country from any dangers or  harm, a country deeply rooted in history and pivotal in the Middle East, in a manner that establishes a new phase focused on the future and thus restoring to Iraq its positive and pivotal role in the region and the world.

We should not forget that this country is one of the founding members of the United Nations.

I would like to mention here the principles that came out of my meeting with his Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (may God grant him long life and health) in Najaf on 4 November. They are:

1. competence and integrity in assuming public office in Iraq.
2. Neighborly relations and preventing foreign interference.
3. upholding the rule of law
4. restricting arms to state control
5. Fighting corruption at all levels

These points and principles have been widely welcomed by Iraqi political actors as a "road map" for the country. As we proceed with UNAMI's transition, I stress the readiness of UNAMI and the UN to assist Iraq in its endeavors to build a secure and prosperous Iraq. I would like to express my pleasure for working with the Iraqi government and His Excellency the Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in the remaining time of the mission. This mission whose employees sacrificed everything precious and their lives to help Iraq.

Thank you and I beg your pardon for talking at length.

Thank you.