UN representative stresses importance of voting in meeting with Kirkuk officials

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG) Ján Kubiš visited and met with Kirkuk officials on Monday, according to a report released by the UN on Tuesday.

Kubiš is visiting governorates across Iraq as per the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq’s (UNAMI) leadership to “assess” the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections set to take place on May 12.

Kirkuk is an oil-rich and ethnically diverse province and one of the most contested territories between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

The report said Kubiš had met with Commander of the Kirkuk Police Directorate and was briefed on the security measures in place to ensure a safe and peaceful election for all voters.

The SRSG was also informed on issues regarding Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their ability to vote.

After his meetings in Kirkuk, Kubiš met with Acting Head of the Kirkuk Provincial Council Rebwar Talabani in Erbil to discuss the upcoming polls.

All participants in the meetings stressed the importance of the parliamentary elections as well as the provincial council elections in December 2018, to be held in Kirkuk for the first time since 2005.

“I encourage everyone to go out and vote on the Election Day,” the SRSG said, emphasizing the importance of voting in this Saturday’s election.

“Kirkuk is a microcosm of Iraq’s diversity. Its people should be proud of this,” he added.

Kubiš also said the people of Kirkuk “should work together to strengthen their unity while respecting this diversity and promote interests of Kirkuk and Iraq by sending representatives they trust to the parliament in Baghdad.”

Over 7,000 candidates representing different parties, including those from the Kurdistan Region, are competing to fill 329 seats in the Iraqi Parliament.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany