Category: Unami

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with new United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) chief Mohamed al-Hassan on Tuesday in Erbil, discussing Baghdad and the Region’s relations, minority groups, and election processes. 
 
“President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Dr. Al-Hassan on his appointment, wished him success and reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s support for the success of UNAMI’s mission,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region presidency.
 
Hassan also serves as the special representative for the UN Secretary-General. He assumed his post in Baghdad on Thursday. Hassan “expressed his pleasure to visit the Kurdistan Region,” according to the statement. 
 
The Kurdistan Region will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday with special voting on Friday. While UNAMI does not have an official role in monitoring the election, the mission has conducted regular meetings with officials in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).  
 
“The two sides also discussed the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, and the status of the communities, with particular emphasis on the Yezidis,” read the statement.
 
Within that context, Barzani expressed “his gratitude to the United Nations for its support to the Independent High Electoral Commission.”
 
UNAMI shared a post on X of the meeting with Barzani, discussing the UN mission’s technical assistance and advice to conduct a free and smooth process.
 
Hassan also met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani during his visit to Erbil.
 
The UNAMI mission is set to end on December 31, 2025. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani made the request in May through a letter submitted to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council, stressing bilateral relationships should…

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Iraqi premier received the new head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Mohamed al-Hassan on Sunday in Baghdad, discussing the UN’s future in the country following the conclusion of the UNAMI mission and regional stability.

“The meeting discussed the nature of the relationship between Iraq and the United Nations, particularly following the issuance of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2732, which ended the mission of UNAMI in Iraq,” read a statement from the office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

The UNAMI mission is set to end on December 31, 2025. Sudani made the request in May through a letter submitted to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council, stressing the bilateral relationship should be “based on bilateral consultation and respect for Iraq’s will and sovereignty.”

After meeting with Hassan, the Iraqi statement “expressed appreciation for the efforts made by UNAMI over the past years and emphasized that Iraq’s relationship with all international institutions and organizations will continue.”

UNAMI has not released a statement on the meeting.

Hassan was appointed as the new UNAMI chief and the Secretary-General’s special representative for Iraq in July, succeeding Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. He arrived in Baghdad to assume his post and responsibilities on Thursday.

UNAMI was established in August 2003 at the request of Iraq under the Security Council Resolution 1500 to support Baghdad’s developmental efforts. Its mandate was extended annually.

The Iraqi government has cited greater security and stability for ending UNAMI’s mission.

During the meeting with Hassan, the Iraqi side affirmed its commitment to stability and regional security, while condemning “Zionist aggression” in Lebanon on the UN Interim Force In Lebanon. 

“[T]his attack demonstrates the Zionist entity’s disregard for international laws and norms, stressing the need for an international response,” read the PM’s statement.

While UNAMI does not directly implement developmental and humanitarian programs, it plays…

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Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson of the secretary-general of the United Nations, spoke to Rudaw in an interview on Wednesday in New York about the UN’s role in Iraq’s first census since 1997 and the first official population count including provinces in the Kurdistan Region since 1987. Haq said that the United Nations’ role is entirely “technical” and “it will be the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to use that data in order to create a transparent census.”

A major concern by Kurds with the implementation of the census has to do with it being conducted in areas like Kirkuk which remain disputed under Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution. When asked, Haq responded that “the UN has encouraged the Government of Iraq to reach out to all its communities and be sensitive to all their concerns.”

The mandate for the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) completes at the end of 2025. Haq detailed that “its mandate has been streamlined,” and the census “is not a responsibility of the UNAMI mission.” Haq emphasized that through the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Iraqi government is being supported technically “to conduct a transparent, a unbiased census.

Below is the transcript for the interview.

Rudaw: Farhan, thank you so much for the opportunity. My first question: How will the United Nations collaborate with Iraq to facilitate the first census since 1997?

Farhan Haq: What the United Nations is trying to do, including through the UN Population Fund – what’s known as UNFPA – is to basically offer contemporary methodologies that will help allow for the best way of disseminating census results, and then using them for the purposes of development data. So, we’re just trying to make sure that this will be, technically, the most up-to-date way of conducting a census.

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TEXAS (KXAN) — Order up! Yelp released its Top 100 restaurants list for 2024, and foodies across the country had plenty of love for the sunbelt region. Top-ranked restaurants in Arizona, Florida and Texas comprised 30% of this year’s list, with notable love for the San Antonio and Houston areas in the Lone Star State.

Here’s a breakdown of all the Texas restaurants included in this year’s roundup.

No. 9: Gino’s Deli Stop N Buy in San Antonio

Located at 13210 Huebner Road in San Antonio, Gino’s Deli Stop N Buy is noted for its Philly cheesesteaks that feature ribeye, provolone cheese, bell peppers, onions and jalapeños. Each day, Gino’s sells almost 250 of those sandwiches, according to Yelp’s coverage.

No. 27: Burger-chan in Houston

Yelp acknowledged this burger restaurant has landed on its Top 100 list for the second consecutive year. Located at 5353 W. Alabama St., Ste. 110 in Houston, Burger-chan is noted for its “unami-powered burgers,” per Yelp’s analysis, adding offerings include beef, chicken, fish and falafel entrees with a secret sauce on top.

No. 38: Tacos Doña Lena in Houston

Twice-recognized Tacos Doña Lena returns to Yelp’s rankings. The fast-casual spot at 8788 Hammerly Blvd., Ste. G in Houston, features tacos, tortas, handmade gorditas, sopes and birria tacos.

No. 61: Avesta Persian Grill in Houston

For nearly a decade, Avesta Persian Grill has been serving up stews, kabobs, rice, curries and appetizers. Located at 11165 Westheimer Road in Houston, owner Zaffar Anvari’s restaurant pulls recipes from his home country of Tajikistan, per Yelp.

No. 63: Pappa Gyros in Katy

RELATED: Austin food truck named best taco spot in Texas by Yelp

Pappas Gyros marries midwestern comfort diner…

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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Wednesday welcomed the start of the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections campaigning period and called for a peaceful process.

“The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) welcomes the commencement today of the campaign period for the upcoming Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections scheduled for 20 October 2024,” UNAMI said in a statement.

The UN mission emphasized the need for a campaign free of violence and intimidation.

“UNAMI looks to all candidates, other political actors and the media to foster a climate of respect, inclusivity and open dialogue throughout the campaign,” continued the statement.

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Tuesday announced September 25 as the first date of election campaigns which will last until midnight on October 15.

A total of 1,191 candidates are vying for the 100-seat Kurdistan parliament, according to IHEC. That number includes 823 men, 368 women, and 38 candidates from minority communities.

Nearly 2.9 million people are eligible to vote, including around 215,000 early voters. There will be 1,400 polling stations, including locations in the disputed areas and most Iraqi provinces, for eligible voters.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday called on the political parties to run a peaceful campaign, while remaining respectful to women and the symbols of ethnic and religious minorities.

Early voting for security forces and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is scheduled for October 18, while the general vote will take place on October 20.

The electoral process has faced numerous challenges, with interference from Baghdad exacerbating tensions between the Kurdistan Region’s political parties, particularly between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). 

The Kurdistan Region last held elections in 2018. The upcoming elections were initially scheduled for 2022, but have been delayed several times.

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Published: 2:00 pm EDT September 23, 2024Published: September 23, 2024Updated: 1:00 pm EDT September 23, 2024

Image via Desis of Doylestown, Facebook.

Desis of Doylestown welcomed more than 200 people for its Garba Fundraiser event held on September 20 at Unami Middle School in Chalfont,

Desis of Doylestown welcomed more than 200 people for its Garba Fundraiser event held on September 20 at Unami Middle School in Chalfont, writes Emily Neil for WHYY.

The Bucks County nonprofit, which counts among its members people of Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan descent, organized the fundraiser to raise money for its fourth annual free Diwali celebration. The upcoming event will be held at Pearl S. Buck House on October 27.

Garba is an Indian circle community dance that celebrates the divine feminine supreme Durga — a Hindu goddess — and marks the passage of time. On Friday, participants dressed up in their best sarees and ghagras and danced in concentric circles as they provided a glimpse into what the nine-day festival looks like in India.

Desis of Doylestown’s youth group planned the event with the aim of educating and sharing more from both within and beyond the local South Asian community to make sure that the children do not feel like they are outsiders.

“Desis are Pennsylvanians, part of this community,” said Desis of Doylestown co-founder Sheela Rai. “We are integral to the community.”

Read more about the Garba fundraiser and how Bucks County’s South Asian community is celebrating their culture in WHYY.

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Baghdad – INA
 
Hussein Al-Alawi, advisor to the Prime Minister, stated on Sunday that Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ Al-Sudani will lead Iraq’s delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, where he will discuss key sustainable development indicators and advocate for productive diplomacy for international cooperation and concluding the UNAMI mission.

Al-Alawi confirmed that the Prime Minister will formally present Iraq’s comprehensive development strategy during the Assembly sessions.
In remarks to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Alawi articulated, “Iraq is embracing a proactive diplomatic approach designed to foster sustained international cooperation within the global framework, while simultaneously facilitating the transition for ending the mission of UNAMI. This effort is complemented by ongoing collaboration with various United Nations agencies.”

He underscored Iraq’s commitment to leveraging the opportunity presented by the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in 2024 as a global platform for dialogue. This session will enable the Iraqi government to communicate its policies and development strategies effectively, allowing for discussions on progress across multiple sectors, including labor, social issues, and governance.
Al-Alawi highlighted the government’s focus on developmental renaissance through the announcement of a five-year plan, alongside initiatives to adapt to climate change and combat the effects of global warming.
He also noted the launch of the “Zero Flame” initiative aimed at eliminating gas flaring, which the government has actively pursued for the past 23 months, emphasizing that these initiatives have invigorated the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors, setting Iraq on a transformative path toward a new era. Furthermore, he mentioned that the government is targeting an increase in the utilization of flared gas from 69% to 75%, with aspirations to position Iraq among the world’s top five gas producers. Ongoing efforts are also directed toward enhancing energy production and establishing a robust industrial environment reliant on gas to achieve…

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Attachments

Executive Summary

Iraq is among the world’s most climate vulnerable countries because of its geographic location and existing environmental fragility which interact with socio-economic and institutional factors. While Iraq is enjoying its most stable period since 2003, governance challenges, instability and violence still exist. Climate change has the potential to exacerbate these existing tensions to undermine peace and increase the risk of conflict. This report identifies four primary localised climate, peace and security risk pathways in Iraq. It further proposes entry points for climate, peace and security interventions and provides recommendations for addressing climate, peace, and security risks.

The primary localised climate, peace and security risk pathways in Iraq are: 1) direct competition for natural resources, 2) exploitation of natural resources by armed actors, 3) limited and politically motivated assistance for climate-displacement and 4) non-participatory, centralised natural resource management.

Direct competition for natural resources manifests itself as regular inter-community conflicts, primarily disputes about surface and ground water. Community conflicts in Iraq are often referred to as tribal conflicts. However, this oversimplifies the climate, peace and security relationships since the groups in conflict often have access to significant weapons and have affiliations with other armed groups and political parties. As a result, water conflicts can escalate quickly, leading to injuries and fatalities. Better natural resource management and governance, especially the reduction of water loss and pollution, is needed to reduce the risks of conflict. Integrated water resource management initiatives supported by the UN and the Government of Iraq should be clearly informed by climate, peace and security risk analysis to ensure positive peace and security impacts.

The exploitation of natural resources by armed actors is a significant and growing climate, peace and security risk in Iraq. It is reflective of the wider integration of armed groups in the social, political…

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Tahar Boumedra, President of the Justice for Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI) spoke passionately at the Iranian Resistance conference about his experiences witnessing human rights abuses in Iraq, particularly against residents of Ashraf.

Drawing on his time with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Boumedra recounted his unrestricted access to Camp Ashraf and the harrowing abuses he witnessed there. He described his role as often being reduced to counting the bodies of victims, a grim duty that eventually led to his resignation from the UN in protest. Boumedra also detailed his defiance against attempts by the UN Legal Affairs Department to silence him, underscoring his commitment to speaking out against injustices.

Boumedra praised Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, for his courage and impartiality in documenting human rights violations. He emphasized that Rehman’s work is widely appreciated and assured him of global support from advocates of peace and justice.

In closing, Boumedra reaffirmed his dedication to exposing human rights abuses and standing in solidarity with the Iranian people and the Iranian Resistance.

The full text of Tahar Boumedra’s speech follows:

Thank you. Thank you very much, brothers and sisters in Ashraf 3. I salute you warmly. Let me say that I thank very much the speakers who took the floor before me, and I’m not going to repeat the legal issues that they addressed.

I’m just going to share with you probably what I would call a testimony, reporting to you exactly my experience in a very short way because I hope that Professor Javaid Rehman will benefit from what I went through…

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