UN Representative in Iraq pledges continued support following key meeting with al-Sistani
During the meeting, al-Sistani emphasized several crucial points, including the prevention of foreign interference in all its forms, upholding the rule of law, ensuring state monopoly over weapons, and combating corruption.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – United Nations Special Representative in Iraq, Mohamed al-Hassan, affirmed on Monday the UN's commitment to supporting Iraq while emphasizing the importance of respecting religious authority in the country.
These statements came during a press conference following al-Hassan's meeting with prominent religious leader His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. The UN representative confirmed their mutual agreement to work together in strengthening Iraq's position and security.
He noted that al-Sistani requested the implementation of priorities that would benefit Iraq's interests.
During the meeting, al-Sistani emphasized several crucial points, including the prevention of foreign interference in all its forms, upholding the rule of law, ensuring state monopoly over weapons, and combating corruption.
He also expressed regret over the international community and its institutions' inability to impose effective solutions to stop the ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.
Al-Sistani welcomed the UN presence in Iraq, represented by al-Hassan, who serves as both the Secretary-General's Representative and the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
The religious leader extended his best wishes to the mission in fulfilling its responsibilities.
The meeting addressed the significant challenges currently facing Iraq and the various hardships endured by its people.
Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani urged Iraqis, particularly the intellectual elite, to learn from their past experiences, make every effort to overcome previous failures, and work diligently toward achieving a better future for their country – one where everyone can enjoy security, stability, progress, and prosperity.
Statement from the Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani's Office
"The Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani provided a brief explanation about the international mission's tasks and the role it intends to play in the upcoming period. In return, he welcomed the United Nations' presence in Iraq and wished its mission success in carrying out its duties," while pointing to "the major challenges Iraq is currently facing and the suffering of its people on multiple levels."
He stated, "Iraqis - especially the conscious elite - should learn from their past experiences, exert maximum effort to overcome their failures, and work diligently toward achieving a better future for their country where everyone can enjoy security, stability, progress, and prosperity."
He emphasized that "this cannot be achieved without preparing scientific and practical plans to manage the country based on the principle of competence and integrity in assuming positions of responsibility, preventing external interventions in all their forms, enforcing the rule of law, restricting weapons to state control, and fighting corruption at all levels," adding: "However, it appears that Iraqis have a long path ahead before they can achieve this, may God help them with it."
Regarding the volatile situations in our region, Sistani expressed "his deep pain over the ongoing tragedy in Lebanon and Gaza, and his profound regret over the international community and its institutions' inability to impose effective solutions to stop it, or at minimum, to neutralize civilians from the consequences of the fierce aggression being carried out by the Zionist entity."
The high-level meeting underscores the ongoing cooperation between international organizations and Iraq's influential religious leadership in addressing the nation's challenges and working toward sustainable solutions for its future.
Updated at 01:38 PM - Nov. 4, 2024.