Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at a UNSC Briefing on the Situation concerning Iraq
Madam President,
We are grateful to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mohamed Al-Hassan for his briefing on the situation in the Republic of Iraq. His statement clearly shows that the situation in the country has definitively normalized. This is further proof that the decision to draw down the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) by December 31, 2025 was timely and justified. We fully support the Special Representative who is doing exceptional work at this crucial period of winding down the UN political presence in the country.
We praise the success of Muhammad al-Sudani's government in improving the socio-economic situation in the country, in boosting the effectiveness of the work of Iraqi governing bodies, and enhancing domestic stability and security. The facts speak for themselves: owing to the effective work of law enforcement, the number of attacks by ISIL has been declining for the fourth consecutive quarter.
Since his appointment as Prime Minister, al-Sudani has undertaken robust measures to modernize the energy sector by leveraging foreign investment; as a result, among other things, gas flaring has been reduced by 70 percent. A symbolic fact in the revival of the new Iraq was the conduct of the first nationwide population census since 1987.
We consider it important to advance constructive dialogue between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government on unresolved contentious issues. We welcome the decision to resume exports of oil products from the Kurdistan Region, which will indisputably help to improve the socio-economic situation in the Region and the entire country.
The successful conduct of the parliamentary election scheduled for November 11, 2025, is something that will play a crucial role for maintaining peace and stability in the country. We trust that this election will be just as successful as the October 20 election in the Kurdish Autonomous Region, which will further attest to the maturity of Iraqi statehood. We call on all Iraqi political forces to strive to resolve all emerging difficulties and tensions exclusively through dialogue and for the benefit of all ethnic and religious communities and population groups.
We welcome Baghdad's increased role in pan-Arab affairs. The successful hosting in the Iraqi capital of the 34th Summit of the Arab League and Iraq's assumption of the presidency of this body reflect the country's significant role in the region. We are convinced that greater coordination between Iraq and its regional partners will contribute to further advancement of peace and security in the Middle East.
We welcome Baghdad's focus on the reinforcement of mutually beneficial relations with neighboring states in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. We are convinced that further consideration of the Iraq-Kuwait file, including possible UN oversight thereof, needs to be agreed upon with Baghdad and Kuwait. We hope that they will be able to reach mutually acceptable solutions in the spirit of good neighborliness.
We extend support for Iraq's sovereignty and we object to any intervention in the country's domestic affairs. The Republic of Iraq should not transform into an arena for political score-settling by external players. We welcome the Iraqi leadership’s efforts to prevent the country from being dragged into the crisis situations that are unfolding along its perimeter amid the protracted escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The key to overall stabilization in the Middle East lies in a just solution to the Palestinian question on the basis of a universally recognized international legal premise, which is the two-state solution. We once again call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, for the release of all forcibly detained persons, and for safe, secure and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Madam President,
In six months, the work of UNAMI, which has been operating since 2003, will draw to a close. On May 31, 2024, we supported the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2732 on its drawdown. Thus, an entire era is coming to an end, which resulted in the transformation of Iraq. From a country devastated by invasion and post-war chaos, Iraq turned into a modern democratic state capable of building its own future without any external assistance.
We expect that the issues falling within the UNAMI purview will be definitively handed over to the Iraqi government. We welcome the transfer of UN infrastructure in Mosul and Kirkuk to the national authorities. We assume that all issues related to the drawdown of the UN presence in the country will be coordinated with Baghdad.
For our part, we are committed to further developing and enhancing our traditionally friendly relations with Iraq, and we stand ready to provide Baghdad with every possible support at this historic juncture.
Thank you.
