Statement by Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, at an open VTC of UNSC members on the situation in Iraq
Mme. President,
We thank Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert for the briefing.
We keep close track of the developments in Iraq. We welcome the Government’s aspiration to convene free, equitable and fair elections scheduled for 6 June, 2021. We hope Iraqi authorities will be able to regulate the details of electoral legislation in the near time. Ensuring consensus of the leading political forces on that matter remains an important element of the process.
Demonstrations demanding political and socio-economic changes continue in Iraq. We commend the efforts of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi aimed at overcoming the existing challenges, i.a. mobilization of resources to terminate the economic crisis, countering corruption, conducting administrative reforms, launching national dialogue at all levels, and combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
An inclusive dialogue can help regulate the remaining internal problems. In our contacts with all Iraq’s political forces we encourage the search for compromise solutions. Against this backdrop, we call upon all external players who are interested in stabilizing the domestic situation in Iraq, to refrain from steps that can negatively impact this process.
Countering terrorism is key for stabilizing the situation in the country. Despite Iraq’s progress at the anti-terrorist front, the security situation in the country remains fragile. It is vital that all those involved in fight against terrorism in Iraq remained committed to sovereignty of the Iraqi state and coordinated their actions with Baghdad.
If Baghdad and Erbil further improve their relations, it will help Iraq strengthen its security and put its economic capacity to good use in the interests of the entire nation.
We support the work of the UN Mission in Iraq. Its activity can add to the reconciliation processes given respect for Iraq’s independence.
The commitment of Baghdad and Kuwait City to promptly resolve all the outstanding issues of Iraqi-Kuwaiti file deserves comprehensive support. This is proven by the recent progress of the sides in the search and repatriation of the remnants of allegedly Kuwaiti citizens.
We reiterate our coherent approach, according to which Iraq is not to become an arena for regional confrontation. The country has the right to develop mutually beneficial relations with its neighbors. We give a high assessment to the principal position of Baghdad in favor of building good neighborly relations and its readiness to promote de-escalation in the region that was clearly articulated during the UNSC meeting on the situation in the Persian Gulf region on 20 October, 2020. We call on the global community to engage in constructive cooperation in the interests of promoting peace and stability in the entire Middle East region, i.a. on the basis of UNSC resolution 598. We believe that Russian security concept for the Persian Gulf region that proposes a collective approach to resolving the problems remains relevant.
Thank you.
