UN chief visits Iraq for first time in six years
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The UN chief expressed on Wednesday the international support for Iraq’s efforts to regain stability and security, and praised it for repatriating its citizens from Syria’s Hawl camp.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Iraq for his first visit in six years on Tuesday. He expressed solidarity with Iraqi’s government after a drawn-out political crisis in the country.
Guterres said in a joint press encounter with Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, “We recognize that the challenges Iraq is facing did not arise overnight, they are the product of decades of oppression, war, terrorism, sectarianism and foreign interference.”
He also expressed his confidence that Iraqis will be able to overcome the difficulties and challenges they still face through an open and inclusive dialogue.
Guterres praised Iraq’s step for repatriating its citizens from northeastern Syria, as saying “I deeply appreciate Iraq’s exemplary efforts to repatriate its citizens from northeast Syria – including from the Hawl camp.”
The UN Secretary-General described Iraq’s step as an “example for the world”, noting that many women and children of different foreign national “remain stranded in desperate conditions.”
On Thursday, he will head to Kurdistan Region of Iraq for talks with Kurdish officials, then will travel to Qatar, where he will attend the summit of the Least Developed Countries.