Category: Unami

Middle East in a Transforming Global Order
Wednesday, 16 April 2025

Excellency Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani

Excellency President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani

Excellency Dr. Barham Salih Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University

Mr. Ammar Al-Hakim

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

Dear brother Bafel Talabani

Greetings,

I join you in (Sulaymaniyah Forum) on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, who thanks you for this invitation wishing you a fruitful, constructive, and in-depth discussions and dialogue on the situation in the Middle East and on Iraq present and future.

I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the sponsors and local partners for Sulaymaniyah Forum, in particular, His Excellency Dr. Barham Salih as well as Dr. Bilal, for facilitations that shall contribute to and facilitate participation in the Forum in the arms of this beautiful, historical and hospitable city: Sulaymaniyah. I would like here to express my admiration of the quote by Mr. Hoshyar Zebari that this forum is the Davos of the Middle East.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the Middle East, we have a recurring habit of beginning speeches by declaring that the times we live in are unprecedented, but the past few years were difficult in the Middle East region and on the people of the whole region in all sense of the word unfortunately. This leads us to ask three questions: First: Why is that? Second: Is there a peculiarity about the Middle East that makes it different from other parts of the world? And the most important and significant question: Is there a chance to change such a reality towards a secure and stable Middle East? We are not in the right time or place to answer these questions, despite their importance.

I will say in English what…

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Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 15, 2025 | 07:47 PM

BAGHDAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 15th Apr, 2025) Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani of Iraq met with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Mohamed Al Hassan, the Iraqi news Agency (INA) reported.

Quoting a statement of the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, INA stated that the meeting reviewed the course of cooperation with the UN and the procedures related to concluding the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Iraqi Prime Minister praised the significant and valuable role played by the UN mission in assisting Iraq over the past two decades.

He reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s commitment to continued cooperation with UN specialised agencies, particularly in the areas of administrative reform and climate change.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani also stressed the region’s pressing need for collaboration and coordination among its nations to achieve shared security.

For his part, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq affirmed the organisation’s readiness to support Iraq’s vision in addressing the challenges facing the region.

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday urged Iraqi authorities to investigate the death of Bashir Khalid Lateef in Baghdad, ten days after he was taken into custody amid allegations that he was tortured in detention. 

“The Mission is deeply concerned about reports the victim suffered from traumatic injuries during detention and was transferred to hospital where he died on 7 April, 10 days after having been taken into custody and held in a police station first and then in a detention centre,” UNAMI said on X. 

Lateef, an engineer, was arrested on March 30 in Baghdad’s al-A’amiriya neighborhood. In a video published on Saturday, the Iraqi interior ministry said that Lateef was filmed “sneaking through a fence” to enter an apartment in a residential complex reportedly belonging to Major General Abbas al-Tamimi. According to the ministry, a fight broke out between Lateef and Tamimi’s sons before police detained him.

The ministry said Lateef was taken to a detention center, where security camera footage purportedly showed him being “severely beaten” by other detainees.

In the statement, UNAMI said it “emphasizes the importance of conducting a fair, transparent, and independent investigation that leads to accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses, and the adoption of measures and procedures to prevent their recurrence.”

Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for both the Iraqi Joint Operations Command and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, revealed on Monday that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has directed a “high-level investigative committee” to investigate Lateef’s death. 

He stressed that the incident “will not pass without holding those responsible accountable and determining the true reasons that led to his death.” 

“We affirm that we will not be lenient with anyone who dares to harm Iraqis or act outside the legal framework, disregarding the principles of human rights and dignity,”…

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His Highness the Crown Prince receives UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq and Head of UNAMI.

His Highness the Crown Prince receives Qatar’s Ambassador to Kuwait Ali bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud.

KUWAIT CITY, April 8 : His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Tuesday received UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Al-Hassan at Bayan Palace on his visit to Kuwait. Crown Prince’s Office Director Lieutenant General Jamal Al-Theyab and Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs at the Crown Prince’s Diwan Mazen Al-Issa attended the meeting. Also on Tuesday, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace an invitation from Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The invitation is for participating in the fifth edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, scheduled in cooperation with Bloomberg, from May 20 to 22, 2025, which will be held under the patronage of Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The invitation was delivered to His Highness by Qatar’s Ambassador to Kuwait Ali bin Abdullah Al- Mahmoud. His Highness Crown Prince’s Office Director Lieutenant General Jamal Al-Theyab and Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs at His Highness Crown Prince’s Diwan Mazen Al-Issa attended the meeting.  (KUNA)

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Baghdad – INA

Iraq’s Representative to the United Nations in New York, Abbas Kazim Obaid, confirmed on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has accepted Iraq’s official invitation to participate in the Arab Summit in Baghdad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), “The Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations in New York, Abbas Kazim Obaid, met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the organization’s headquarters. During the meeting, the Iraqi representative presented the official letter addressed by the President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, to the Secretary-General, which includes his invitation to attend and participate in the upcoming Arab Summit scheduled to be held in the capital, Baghdad, on May 17, 2025.”

According to the statement, Obaid conveyed “the greetings of the President of the Republic, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein to the Secretary-General,” stressing their keenness for “his attendance, given the value his participation will add to the summit discussions.”

The statement added that “the meeting also discussed the most prominent issues on the United Nations agenda in light of regional and international geopolitical changes, as well as the priorities and concerns of the Group of 77 and China, currently chaired by Iraq, particularly in the areas of financing for development, climate change, and sustainable development.”

According to the statement, the Iraqi representative affirmed “the group’s keenness to strengthen partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies to achieve common goals in accordance with the principle of collective responsibility.”

He continued, “The meeting addressed prospects for cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations in the post-conclusion phase of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), appreciating the efforts made by the mission over the past…

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Thursday stated that it strongly condemns an attack on Assyrian Christians in Duhok city earlier this week while they were celebrating Akitu – the Assyrian-Babylonian New Year. The mission also commended the security forces for swiftly arresting the perpetrator. 

An axe attack targeted Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac Christian celebrants gathered in Duhok city on Tuesday to celebrate Akitu. The assailant injured a young man and an elderly woman from Nineveh province who had come to Duhok to partake in the festivities. 

The UN mission in Iraq said in a statement that it strongly condemns the attack, stating that the assault “disrupted what was meant to be a peaceful and joyful religious celebration.”

The statement cited its chief Mohamed al-Hassan as praising “the swift and effective response by Iraqi authorities, which led to the immediate apprehension of the perpetrator.”

He added that the attack “threatens the spirit of coexistence and tolerance that Iraqis and the Iraqi authorities have worked diligently to rebuild and preserve,” calling the authorities to “to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”

The Kurdistan Region Presidency on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack.

“While strongly condemning this crime, we assure all Kurdistanis that the Kurdistan Region, as always, will remain a homeland of coexistence, peace, and stability for all its components, and in no way will it allow the disruption of the culture of coexistence, mutual acceptance, and tolerance. The criminal will face legal punishment,” the Kurdish presidency said in a statement. 

It noted that it remains in contact with relevant authorities to uncover the circumstances behind the “criminal attack.” 

On Tuesday night, the Kurdistan Region Security Council said the attacker shared the Islamic State’s (ISIS) ideology. “A person with terrorist beliefs sharing the ISIS ideology attacked citizens…

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The United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) was established by UN Security Council Resolution 1500 in August 2003, four months after the appointment of a United Nations Special Representative to Iraq following the fall of the Baath regime. Its primary role was to support the Coalition Provisional Authority, led by Paul Bremer, and the Iraqi Governing Council in establishing democratic governance and rebuilding state institutions.

While the UN Country Team, composed of some 22 agencies, funds, and programs, focuses on humanitarian assistance and helping Iraq meet its Sustainable Development Goals, UNAMI functions as a distinctly political mission. Its mandate has been renewed annually at the request of the Iraqi government and reports to the Department of Political Affairs in New York. UN Security Council Resolution 1770 of 2007 significantly expanded UNAMI’s role to include fostering political dialogue and reconciliation, providing electoral assistance, promoting human rights and judicial reform, and engaging neighboring countries.

UNAMI mandate under review

Upon assuming office in October 2022, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiya Al-Sudani decided, with broad support from his governing coalition, that UNAMI’s role was no longer necessary. Central to this decision was Iraq’s desire to establish a sense of normalcy, given the vastly improved security situation and relatively stable political climate. The government sought to shed the perception of dependence on international assistance and emphasize that Iraq could independently resolve its domestic and foreign disputes without UNAMI’s mediation.

In May 2023, UN Security Council Resolution 2682 commissioned an independent strategic review of UNAMI, led by Germany’s Volker Perthes. The review included consultations in Iraq in November 2023, during which the team met with a range of stakeholders, including national and local government officials, political party leaders, and members of civil society. It assessed three key areas: current threats to Iraq’s peace…

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The Fifth Committee of the United Nations has commenced discussions on the financial implications of the Secretary-General’s plan to reduce personnel in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). This plan involves the withdrawal of 510 staff members by the end of 2025, following the Security Council’s recent resolution extending UNAMI’s mandate for an additional 19 months. The Secretary-General’s transition strategy includes retaining a smaller team to assist with the mission’s closure in 2026.

Details of the Drawdown Plan

During the meeting, Christophe Monier, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, presented the Secretary-General’s report detailing the revised estimates for the 2025 program budget. The report outlines the financial framework necessary to facilitate the orderly drawdown of personnel and assets from UNAMI. A significant allocation of $21.7 million has been earmarked for separation costs associated with the phased reduction of staff. This budget adjustment replaces the previously proposed financial resources of $103.2 million, reflecting a strategic shift in the mission’s operational needs.

The Security Council’s resolution 2732 (2024) mandates this drawdown, which is set to conclude by December 31, 2025. According to the transition plan, 126 personnel will remain in Iraq to assist with liquidation and related activities into 2026. The adjustments in personnel and budget are crucial for ensuring that UNAMI can fulfill its remaining responsibilities while transitioning effectively.

Advisory Committee Recommendations

In a related report, Carlo Jacobucci, Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), highlighted that the revised budget estimates have increased by $12.3 million compared to the previous year’s appropriation. This increase reflects the need for a more balanced withdrawal schedule, as the majority of personnel reductions are concentrated towards the end of the year. Jacobucci urged the Secretariat to implement a gradual transition of…

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Thursday condemned the reported assaults on Syrian workers in Iraq, which occurred following the recent violence in Syria’s Alawite-majority western coast.

“Reports circulating of attacks against Syrian workers in Iraq are of grave concern,” UNAMI said in a statement on X, urging ““all to abide by the law, exercise wisdom, stay away from hate speech and maintain stability within a secure Iraq that is reconciled with itself and its surrounding.”

A video has been circulating on Iraqi social media since Tuesday, depicting a newly-formed armed group calling itself the ‘Ya Ali Popular Formations’ attacking Syrian nationals in Iraq.

The shadow group alleged that it is pursuing members of the al-Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra) and its supporters in Iraq. The al-Nusra Front is the predecessor of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which led a coalition of rebel groups that toppled the regime of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in early December.

The assault is widely believed to have been motivated by the escalation of violence in Syria’s Alawite-majority western coastal regions, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of around 1,500 people – mostly civilians – according to a Monday report by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

UNAMI on Thursday welcomed “the unequivocal condemnation of such attacks” by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and commended the Baghdad’s “decision to set up a specialized security team to pursue the perpetrators of such attacks, which infringe on human dignity as well as human rights and violate the applicable Iraqi laws.”

Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, told Rudaw on Wednesday that “a security team has been formed to arrest those who attack Syrian citizens working in Iraq and commit violent and inappropriate acts against them.”

The team was formed per Sudani’s orders, stated…

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