UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Wednesday from Baghdad to "
break the cycles of instability
" to embark on the path "
to prosperity and freedom
", during a visit by "
solidarity
", the first he has done in Iraq for six years.
Antonio Guterres' trip comes as Iraq commemorates this year the 20th anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, overthrown by an international coalition led by the United States and deployed in March 2003.
"
I am here for a visit of solidarity, to underline the commitment of the United Nations to support Iraq in the consolidation of its democratic institutions (...) and human rights for all Iraqis
", declared Antonio Guterres during a press briefing on Wednesday, alongside Prime Minister Mohamed Chia al-Soudani.
Most pressing challenges
Referring to several pressing issues, including the impact of climate change, Antonio Guterres praised the Prime Minister's efforts to "
address the most pressing challenges
", including "
the fight against corruption, the improvement of public services and economic diversification , in order to reduce unemployment
.
With immense wealth in hydrocarbons, Iraq draws 90% of its revenue from its oil windfall, and its foreign currency reserves have exceeded 100 billion dollars.
But after decades of conflict, the country still suffers from crumbling infrastructure and endemic corruption.
Dysfunctions that demonstrators had denounced in 2019, during a vast and unprecedented protest movement which also castigated the influence of armed factions and youth unemployment.
The country is also plagued by chronic political instability: the current prime minister was appointed at the end of 2022 after a year of endless negotiations between the major Shiite parties and deadly clashes in the middle of Baghdad in August.
Antonio Guterres, whose last visit to Iraq dates back to the spring of 2017, however expressed on Wednesday "
the hope
" of seeing the country "
break the cycles of instability and fragility
" to commit "
towards greater prosperity, freedom and peace.
»
“Regional stability”
The UN boss praised
Iraq's "
central " role for "
regional stability
" and "
the government's commitment to advancing dialogue and diplomacy
".
Because Baghdad has launched an unprecedented mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two great regional rivals.
And if today these talks are at a standstill, they have given rise to several fruitful meetings between senior officials of the two countries.
For his part, Mohammed Shia al-Soudani underlined the priorities of his government, in terms of “
creating jobs
” and “
fighting poverty
”.
“
Our government has created a certain political and security stability.
Today Iraq is a key solution in the region.
It is not part of the security and political problem
,” he insisted.
The invasion of the United States on March 20 and the fall of Saddam Hussein opened one of the bloodiest pages in the country's history in Iraq, marked by a murderous sectarian war, then the rise in power of the jihadists of the State group. Islamic (IS).
Baghdad, supported by an international coalition, announced in 2017 its "
victory
military against the jihadists.
Antonio Guterres also spoke with Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein on Wednesday.
He must meet President Abdel Latif Rachid and the head of Parliament Mohamed al-Halboussi, according to Iraqi diplomacy.
Thursday, the head of the UN will visit a camp for displaced people in the north of the country, before going to Erbil to meet representatives of the regional government of autonomous Kurdistan.
He will then go to Qatar, in particular for the summit of the Least Developed Countries.
