Tag: Unami

New York, 10 June 2025
[As Delivered]

Madame President,

Distinguished representatives of Council members,

Allow me to begin by expressing my joy to seeing (a dear friend and colleague) preside over the work of the Council. Let me express my profound appreciation to members of this esteemed Council for their attention, support, and guidance. I am so delighted to seeing the distinguished representatives of Iraq and Kuwait participate in today’s session. A word of gratitude must be given to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his continued engagement in the Middle East, including his recent visit to Baghdad for the Arab Summit.

Madame President,

Distinguished Representatives,

Between my last report, six months ago, and now so many things have happened in Iraq which I will not list here, however, with your permission, I would like to mention the most notable developments at the forefront of which is Iraq’s drive towards more stability, more prosperity, and closer regional integration.

My profound appreciation goes to the Government of Iraq for the humanitarian aid it has provided to the people of Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria. Not to mention, its support to the new peace initiative between Türkiye and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which, if implemented in good faith, will bring peace, security, and stability to the region at large.

Madame President,

Distinguished Representatives,

Iraq is well on its way to another national parliamentary election, set for 11thof November this year. Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), with UNAMI’s technical support, are making notable progress in preparing for this election. Voter registration is set to conclude in the coming days and nearly three-quarters of total voters have completed biometric registration so far.

Yes, there are challenges, including logistical concerns. But IHEC is committed to doing its best towards a free, fair and…

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A special mission established by the UN in 2003 at the request of the Iraq government has shut down a key office, in another step towards ceasing operations in the country by the end of this year.

The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq closed its offices Mosul this week. Unami, which has its headquarters in Baghdad, was set up after the US-led invasion that toppled the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.

It was given a broad mandate to help develop Iraqi institutions, support political dialogue and elections, and promote human rights. The agency’s heads have shuttled between Iraq’s political, security and judicial officials to help resolve conflicts.

Baghdad requested last year that the mission end by 2025, saying it was no longer needed because Iraq had made significant progress towards stability. “Iraq has managed to take important steps in many fields, especially those that fall under Unami’s mandate,” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

However, the mission will continue to deliver in its remaining mandate, “including providing technical electoral assistance, promoting human rights, supporting humanitarian and development tasks”, an Unami representative told The National.

In the final months of the year, the agency’s work will be “transferred to the UN Country Team operating in Iraq or to the national authorities”, the representative said.

“In short, while Unami is leaving Iraq, the United Nations is not. The United Nations will continue to engage in support of the Government and the people of Iraq.”

Unami closed its office in the northern city of Kirkuk at the end of April. Its remaining offices in Erbil, capital of the Kurdish region, and in the southern city of Basra will be closed along with its headquarters at the end…

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24 May 2025 | Baghdad, Iraq

“Your Excellency, Prime Minster Mohammed Shia Al Sudani

Your Excellency, Dr. Aun Dhyaib Abdullah,

Distinguished Guests, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honor to join you today at the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference, a vital platform that brings together national leaders, regional experts, and international partners to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: water security.

Today, we gather under the theme “Water and Technology: Partnership for Development” – a timely and urgent call to action. Iraq continues to face severe water scarcity, driven not only by climate change but also by water management issues, legacy infrastructure, and resource-intensive practices.

The consequences are far-reaching: from reduced agricultural productivity and internal displacement to increased fragility in already vulnerable communities. Water scarcity, quality, and security have become among the most critical challenges facing the country – threatening not only human consumption and economic development but also the ecosystems and the environment.

Yet, amidst these challenges, there is also opportunity.

The Government of Iraq has taken commendable steps – from launching the National Water Dialogue to hosting this yearly conference in addition to the cooperation efforts between the UN and Government of Iraq Water task forces.

Iraq’s accession to the UN Water Convention in 2023 marked a historic milestone, making it the first Arab country to do so. This progressive step signals Iraq’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable water governance.

The United Nations stands firmly with Iraq on this vital journey. Through the dedicated efforts of UN agencies together with national partners, we are supporting Iraq in modernizing irrigation and introducing water-saving technologies; rehabilitating marshlands and promoting eco-tourism; developing early warning systems; advancing climate-smart agriculture; and strengthening Iraq’s capacity for transboundary water negotiations.

As we work with the Government to…

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António Guterres was speaking during a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial in Baghdad to honour the victims of the 19 August 2003 Canal Hotel bombing – the worst terrorist attack in UN history.

Twenty-two people were killed, including the then UN Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.  More than 100 others were injured, and several survivors attended the ceremony.

Families still mourning

Mr. Guterres told the audience that “22 years is a long time, but we will never forget the colleagues who were killed that day in the bombing at the Canal Hotel.”

These staff members “were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends who are, to this day, mourned by those they knew and loved,” he said.

“We will always remember their leader, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was also killed in the attack. We will stand with the survivors whose lives were changed forever,” he added.

“And we will remember the courageous colleagues and others who rushed to help on that terrible day, and in the days and weeks after — showing us the very best of the humanitarian spirit.”

A tribute and reminder

Mr. Guterres said the memorial stands as a tribute to their lives and their contributions to the people of Iraq.  It also serves as a reminder of how far the country has come since 2003.

He noted that the women and men of the United Nations have worked tirelessly together with the brave and resilient people of Iraq to support their quest for stability, development and peace.

He stressed that above all, the memorial is “a clear reminder of the vital work that our organization does around the world — and the dangers our people face in carrying out that work.”

Remembering humanitarians worldwide

Five years after the attack the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian…

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The Arab League Summit in Baghdad. (Photo: via UNAMI X Page)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Arab League summit urges immediate halt to Israeli attacks, as Spain pushes for UN resolution and Guterres demands humanitarian access.

The 34th Arab League Summit opened in Baghdad on Saturday amid growing regional turmoil and urgent calls to end the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

The summit, held under the theme “Dialogue, Solidarity, and Development”, convenes as the situation in Gaza reaches what Iraq’s Prime Minister described as an “unprecedented stage of genocide,” with continued Israeli bombardment, mass displacement, and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

Attending the summit are several Arab heads of state and senior officials, including the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and UN Secretary-General António Guterres were also present, underscoring the international dimension of the crisis.

34th League of Arab States Summit

Speech by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres [Arabic]

Baghdad, Iraq
17 May 2025 pic.twitter.com/tUsDmtiuUc

— UNAMI (@UNIraq) May 17, 2025

Focus on Gaza

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who assumed the rotating presidency of the Arab Summit, used his opening remarks to denounce the Israeli campaign in Gaza, calling for serious and united Arab action to halt the genocide and open humanitarian corridors.

“The war in Gaza has reached a horrifying and unprecedented stage,” al-Sudani said, adding that Arab countries must act collectively to stop the bloodshed and ensure the delivery of aid.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi echoed these concerns, stating that Palestinians are being subjected to systematic efforts aimed at erasing…

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originally published: 05/13/2025

(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) — The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC), a program of Wharton Arts, presents Sing into Spring on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Ridge Performing Arts Center (68 South Finley Avenue) in Basking Ridge. Showtime is 4:00pm. The annual spring concert featuring all five NJYC choirs offers a vibrant, moving, and culturally rich program that reflects both the diversity of music and the depth of the choristers’ growth throughout the season.

Said NJYC Founder and Director Trish Joyce, “Audiences will hear music from across centuries and continents, from traditional spirituals and folk songs to contemporary works by living composers. Highlights include Kuwa Furaha by Jim Papoulis, inspired by his work with children in Africa, where joy is expressed through rhythmic clapping and reaching to the sky. The Beat of a Different Drum by Sarah Quartel invites singers and audiences alike to celebrate individuality and embrace what makes them unique, while Family Tree by Stephen Hatfield poetically links generations through lullaby and memory. The concert also features spirited folk tunes such as the whimsical Scottish tale of Aiken Drum, the American railroad ballad Nine Hundred Miles, and the hopeful Georgia Sea Islands spiritual, Yonder Come Day. A barbershop-style rendition of I’m Gonna Live Till I Die adds upbeat energy, while beautiful lyrical selections like By Night by Elaine Hagenberg and Stars Tonight by Judith Herrington provide moments of beauty and reflection.”

The Sing into Spring concert will showcase the world premiere of Long Ago Back East, a new work by Dr. William Linthicum-Blackhorse. Commissioned by Wharton Arts with the generous support of the American Composers’ Forum and Chorus America’s 2024 Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant, the piece is scored for treble voices, flute, strings, and piano. The choral piece honors the legacy of Nora Thompson Dean, one of the last native…

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When you get into taking home cooking seriously, suddenly you are speaking about the joys of a ‘good, fresh lemon’, and having minor meltdowns over running out of onions – “but we always have onions!!”

The other thing that happens is you continue to challenge yourself. Yes, having a good meal rotation is the most important thing, but trying to reach gourmet-level is the real home cook dream.

Now, home cooks have taken to Reddit to share their ‘stupidly simple’ ingredients that have made their cooking taste more professional.

When it comes to cheese, choose quality when you can

Unsurprisingly, the cooks have a lot to say about cheese. User CompanyOther2608 says: “It’s a no-brainer, but blocks of good cheese instead of pre-grated or shredded”.

Breddy adds: “Good quality parmesan cheese.”

While Revolutionary-Bus893 changed my life saying: “I’m amazed how a few tablespoons of cream cheese can richen up sauces.”

When life gives you lemons, zest up your dishes

Sphinxyhiggins adds that they love to add lemon to spicy or savoury food, while crippledchef23 says: “I started adding lemon pepper to my spaghetti sauce and it changes things it a way I can’t describe. More tomato-y, but not acidic. Savory and deep and somehow sweet without any sugar.”

Revolutionary_Sir_76 is knocking the pineapple on pizza debate out of the park, saying: “Lemon on pizza or any kinds cheese sends me.”

As a fellow lemon fiend, I’m not writing it off.

MSG is almost always a good idea

Carpe-Bananum says: “A little MSG. Umami is your Daddy.”

If you’re not familiar, MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a flavour enhancer that’s common in Chinese cuisine but is also frequently used in tinned foods to enhance umamu flavours.

User BumblebeeNo3833 adds: “Came here to say this! MSG has made SUCH…

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2025-04-29T15:52:00+00:00

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Shafaq News/ The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will close its field office in Kirkuk on Wednesday as part of a plan to adjust its presence in Iraq, according to Deputy Special Representative Claudio Cordone.

Following his meeting with the head of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, Mohammad Ibrahim al-Hafez, Cordone stated UNAMI would “continue carrying out its mandate across Iraq until the end of the year” despite the closure, adding jycoordination with local authorities would continue to support the completion of existing programs and projects.

The two sides discussed political, administrative, and electoral challenges in Kirkuk, and emphasized the importance of maintaining UN support for good governance, development initiatives, and the promotion of civil peace and coexistence among the province’s communities.

Al-Hafez expressed appreciation for UNAMI’s efforts in Kirkuk, particularly its role in “supporting electoral processes and encouraging peaceful coexistence,” emphasizing the Provincial Council’s commitment to ongoing coordination with the United Nations on shared areas of work.

During the meeting, Al-Hafez also raised humanitarian issues, including the situation of 138 demolished Arab villages, and requested UNAMI’s support to “rebuild the villages and facilitate the voluntary and safe return of displaced residents.”

About UNAMI

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) was established under UN Security Council Resolution 1500 in 2003 to assist Iraq’s political transition following the fall of Saddam Hussein. Its mandate includes political mediation, electoral assistance, humanitarian coordination, and human rights advocacy.

UNAMI’s operations were suspended temporarily after the August 2003 bombing of its Baghdad headquarters, which killed Special Representative Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 other personnel. The Mission later resumed operations and continues to operate under a Security Council mandate renewed annually.

Today, UNAMI…

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