YouSaid · the spoken record

Barham Salih

lines on the record: 56
first: 2019-09-24
most recent: 2021-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Responding to those issues is the greatest gift that we can give future generations.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We would also like to thank the Secretariat and the European Union for their role in sending international observers tasked with ensuring the greatest possible transparency, as well as the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq for all of its efforts in supporting the elections. Iraq is a living example of diversity and profound human coexistence in history. Our people draw strength from that diversity and deep-rooted coexistence. We are aware that nations become stronger when respect for diversity becomes a criterion of their culture. I would like to conclude by reaffirming that we are partners on this planet. We are partners in our aspirations, fears, concerns and human values. We urgently need solidarity if we are to halt the degradation of our environment and avoid wars and conflicts.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We have enacted a new electoral law, more just and representative than the previous iteration, and established a new electoral commission, supported by the Government so that we can ensure that the elections will be well organized. In addition, we have a new electoral code of conduct aimed at ensuring the elections’ success and enabling them to pave the way for peaceful reforms through a Parliament and Government that genuinely respect the voice of the people without manoeuvring or manipulation. The fact is that one reason for the political tension in our country has been the flaws and the lack of popular trust in previous electoral processes. In that regard, I would like to thank the countries that contributed to the Security Council’s adoption of its resolution 2576 (2021), on supporting the electoral process in Iraq.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The elections will be decisive and will have major effects in Iraq and possibly the entire region. They will be held at the time when our people make their pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Al-Hussain in Karbala, embodying the noblest human values of reform, peace, the rejection of injustice and oppression and the importance of living a dignified life. Iraqis are firmly determined to preserve their nation, carry out reforms, fight corruption and achieve the right to a free and dignified life. In order to realize those noble goals, it is essential that we restore Iraqis’ trust in their elections and ensure their broad participation. That is a top priority for us.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Iraq emphasizes its position on the importance of arriving at a comprehensive and fair solution to the Palestinian question. There can be no peace in the region without guaranteeing and achieving all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to an independent State. The ongoing war in Yemen and its security and human repercussions are also a source of concern demanding a solution that ensures security and peace for its citizens and the countries of the region. Next month, Iraq will see a decisive national event, the holding of early elections in response to a popular movement and a massive national consensus on the need for radical reforms and a new political and social pact that will address the previous system’s failings and ensure good governance.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We will not see peace efforts succeed without Iraq, an Iraq that is safe, stable and fully sovereign and whose pivotal role in the region has been re-established. That requires regional and international support as well as an end to competitive behaviour and conflicts of others on our land. We also note that the ongoing crisis in Syria and its terrible humanitarian ramifications for the Syrian people have long ceased to be acceptable. We want to remind the world that hotspots of terrorism are always active and thrive on the continuation of this crisis, thereby threatening the Syrian people and my country, indeed the entire region. It is high time that we moved seriously to end to the suffering of the Syrians, based on respect for their right to peace and freedom and by eliminating the pockets of terrorism that are still active there.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That is why we have adopted a balanced policy based on dialogue and reducing tensions while building on common ground. We underscore the need to create a new organization based on cooperation and the economic links among the countries of the region with the participation of the international community — an organization that is able to respond to shared challenges, whether they are those of terrorism, extremism, unstable economic conditions, an inability to provide jobs for ever-growing numbers of young people, or the repercussions of climate change. My Government has therefore organized the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in order to underscore that Iraq, which was a synonym for conflict, is now a meeting point for the interests of the peoples and States of the region.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“No country that believes its measures can protect it from the risks of climate change will succeed if similar measures are not taken by its neighbours, its region and the whole world. Our sandstorms, water scarcity, rising temperatures and growing desertification are cross-border problems that will not be solved without shared coordination and planning, internationally and at a high level, combining national, regional and international plans. Iraq is located in the heart of the Middle East, a region that is still suffering from wars and conflicts that are the result of a breakdown in its security and political systems over the past 40 years at least. The fact that Iraq ceased to play its natural role in the region has been one of the reasons for the region’s destabilization.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“This region was previously known as the Sawad Land and the Garden of Eden, thanks to its green and fertile areas. Because of its geographic location in the centre of the region and its diverse environment, which includes palm trees, marshes and the mountains of Kurdistan, Iraq has the potential to be an environmental meeting point for the countries of the Middle East. That will require international support in every area in order to assist Iraq in its efforts to implement those national policies and strategies. No country has been spared or excluded by the climate crisis, and we cannot reduce or adapt to its disastrous and harmful effects through individual measures.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Iraq is experiencing difficult climate conditions. Desertification and scarce water resources have put us in fifth place among the countries most weakened by climate change, according to the sixth Global Environmental Outlook’s regional assessment for West Asia. Iraq has acceded to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and we are working on a strategy aimed at preserving the environment and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We have drafted a document on national contributions to guide our economic transformation and promote the concept of a green economy in order to attract new investment to Iraq and ensure greater participation by the private sector in addressing climate change. We must revive Mesopotamia.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In that context, I would like to call on our friends in the international community to help us to find and restore the money that has been stolen from Iraq due to corruption, which would be a decisive deterrent step. We also reiterate our call for establishing an international alliance to combat corruption and restore pillaged funds, similar to the International Coalition against Terrorism. We cannot eliminate terrorism unless we eliminate corruption, which itself constitutes a political economy of violence and terrorism. Corruption and terrorism are interlinked, intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Our planet is facing an existential danger from extreme climate change, which is threatening future generations. While our political views may differ, we must remain united in facing climate change, which is a danger that threatens us all.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“For Iraq the fight against corruption is therefore a national battle. We cannot normalize our country’s situation without defeating corruption. That means we must eliminate the sources of corruption and block their various forms of access. We must ensure the restoration of the funds that have been plundered or trafficked, much of which has been used to perpetuate violence and chaos in our country. We have no choice but to win this war. Based on its commitment to fighting corruption, Iraq joined the United Nations Convention against Corruption of2000, as well as the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention of 2010. We are also working on a bill for recovering plundered assets, and the Government recently held an important conference aimed at coordinating efforts to that end.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We must respond to people’s urgent humanitarian needs and improve our capacity for rebuilding our country’s infrastructure so that our citizens will be able to once again live a dignified and normal life. In that context, I would like to underscore Iraq’s enactment of a law on Yazidi female survivors in order to ensure justice for the members of that group, who have suffered the worst kinds of oppression and exploitation at the hands of Da’esh. The law also covers women from other societal groups. There is another problem, that of corruption, which is also a threat to the security and stability of the whole world. Our country is dealing with the corruption that has arisen in the wake of the heavy burden left behind by the wars, conflicts and violence that squandered a huge part of the country’s resources, depriving Iraqis of its riches.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“If we become lax or distracted by regional conflicts, we will simply see these obscurantist forces return to threaten our peoples and our security. Cooperation and solidarity are the only choice in our fight against terrorism and the groups that support it. We have to fight its funding, address its dangerous effects and provide reparation to its victims, ensuring that the horrible suffering we have seen is not repeated. Our obligation today is to rebuild our liberated cities and ensure that the displaced can return home. We have made some progress on that, and we hope to benefit from the support of the international community in rebuilding our regions freed from terrorism.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We have been able to overcome those terrible tragedies and liberate our cities from the evil forces of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), thereby delivering the world from their crimes, thanks to the courage of our army and police, as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Peshmerga, with the support of the international coalition and our neighbours and friends, as well as the great role played by the religious authority of An-Najaf al-Ashraf in mobilizing people for that fateful confrontation. Our armed forces continue to act with determination to stamp out the remaining terrorist cells that threaten the security of Iraq, its region and the world. We cannot understate the danger posed by terrorism.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“I would like to take this opportunity to express the deep appreciation of my Government and people for the international organizations, particularly the World Health Organization, that have supported us in addressing this pandemic. In the past 40 years alone, Iraq has suffered from wars, embargoes, tyranny and genocide campaigns. We have known mass graves, the Anfal or Kurdish campaign, the use of chemical weapons in Halabja, the draining of our marshes and the grip of terrorism on our cities.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“They once again underscore the central role of the United Nations and of international organizations in uniting those with differing positions in order to address these dangers, and it is time to address them together. Our meeting this year is an opportunity to cooperate and agree on a road map for action for the future. In Iraq, the Government has taken a series of necessary health measures to control the pandemic, despite our limited medical infrastructure, which suffered from extensive destruction during the wars we endured in recent decades. We have been able to increase the capacity of the governmental institutions providing treatment and prevention. Iraq was one of the first countries to join the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility to ensure vaccines for its citizens and foreign residents.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We would like to congratulate the President on his election to lead the General Assembly, and to wish him every success in his task. I am speaking to the Assembly today as a representative of Iraq, a founding State of the United Nations. I am speaking on behalf of its people, whose roots go back to the most ancient times, to the civilizations of Ur, Sumer, Babylon and Assyria, the oldest known to humankind. We meet here today as we continue to face the health challenges created by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as those of violence, terrorism, sustainable development and climate change. These are grave challenges that require serious solutions.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We recall such bitter experiences as the genocide in Rwanda, the wars and massacres suffered by the Iraqi people and the ongoing crises in Syria and Libya. We must learn from the past. We must ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals can evolve. We must strive for reform within the United Nations so that the Organization can meet the peoples’ aspirations. Thank you for your kind attention. We pray to Almighty God that our next meeting will be held in a pandemic-free world but also in a world free of any other virus, such as hatred, corruption, war or terrorism. May peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I commend our young people who, day after day, demonstrate their determination to live a free and decent life. We optimistically look towards the future. Let us continue to support our young people as they walk the path of freedom, rule of law, sovereignty and justice. In conclusion, I reiterate our gratitude to the United Nations as we mark its seventy-fifth anniversary. There is no alternative to the Organization, which brings us together despite all our differences, especially at a time when we face transnational challenges, such as pandemics, climate change, food security-related problems and the issue of migration. All of these issues can be addressed only through the United Nations and its Charter. There is no doubt whatsoever that the global order has failed over the past 75 years.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“An independent and sovereign Iraq will be a meeting point for the common interests of the peoples and countries of the region based on economic and security cooperation in order to combat terrorism and extremism. We look forward to enjoying the effective support of our neighbours and the international community for our national endeavour, which will have a great impact on the future of Iraq, the region and the world. In that context, Iraq stresses its position on the need to resolve the Palestinian question. The rights of the Palestinian people must be achieved by establishing its independent State. That would help to achieve stability of the region and the entire world. Today I recall our martyrs, who have sacrificed their lives for freedom and for the fight against terrorism.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“With that in mind, we hope to receive the support of the United Nations in its coordination with electoral authorities. We also hope to receive technical assistance, which will guarantee fair elections and ensure the prevention of manipulation, forgery and extortion. Iraqi citizens must not be influenced in their electoral choice. Our national goal is to establish a strong State capable of imposing the rule of law and upholding the rights of its citizens. We do not want Iraq to become an arena for conflicts or the settling of scores of others on its territories. We have endured enough wars, siege and terrorism with attacks on our sovereignty.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Weapons must remain in the hands of Iraqi State institutions. We must also pursue our inquiries into crimes committed against protesters and members of the security forces. The fight against groups operating outside of the law and the issue of arms control are part of a tireless struggle waged by the Iraqi State against anarchists and extremists. This is not an easy task. However, we must continue work towards peace within our societies and ensure Iraqi sovereignty. The latest communique released by the Shi’ite supreme authority, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, following his meeting with the Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, clearly outlined these various duties to reform the course of the ongoing political process and rid it from corruption and weaknesses.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We must combat corruption and corrupt individuals — another facet of terrorism. Among the basic tasks the new Government must discharge is the holding of early elections next year. These elections must be fair and transparent based on new electoral law. They must be more representative and fairer and meet the demands of major national popular uprisings. They must meet the legitimate aspirations of Iraqis and their desire for democracy. Iraqis aspire to a life of freedom and decency. Power must belong to Iraqis. They must speak up. The Government must emanate from them and safeguard their interests and meet their demands. The Government is also called upon another task that is not less important — that is, to have monopoly over weapons by preventing their possession and use in unlawful contexts.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Measures already under way which demonstrate that peaceful and constitutional change away from violence. That is what the Iraqis want. Against this backdrop, a new Government was formed this year. It is led by Mustafa Al-Khidimi. The Government was formed in response to the calls for reform heard during the popular uprising. Following our experience of authoritarianism in Iraq, we can now say that the current situation, the status quo, cannot continue. The Iraqi people wish to usher in a new political era so that they can combat the structural imbalances in Iraqi power mechanisms that have existed since 2003. Iraqis want good governance. In response to the public will, the new Government shoulders heavy responsibilities. First, we need structural reforms in the political, economic and management spheres.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It will require great effort on our part and on the part of our friends and the international Organization. Iraq has experienced more than 40 years of war, suffering, blockades and terrorism. We have suffered more recently from the sharp drop in oil prices on the global market and from the impact of the economic havoc caused by COVID-19. The drop in oil prices has coincided with the pandemic threat. As a result, we have had to suddenly face major challenges. Approximately one year ago, Iraq also experienced a popular uprising, during which all citizens clamoured for change that would enable the aspirations of Iraqis to be met. They called for active dialogue with regard to the State’s foundations, managing the country’s affairs and their rights. Reforms have started in the country but we need time to achieve the desired results.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“For this reason, the international community must stand shoulder to shoulder with Iraq to ensure that such crimes are not committed again in the future. A few days ago, I attended a meeting of Iraqi women — more specifically Yazidi, Shi’ite Turks of Iraq and Shabak citizens — who survived barbaric acts and the atrocities of terrorism. I heard them express the pain they continue to endure more than three years after the liberation of their cities. These women continue to endure the psychological and physical trauma caused by genocide, forced displacement and physical and moral torture to which they are subjected. They continue to live in camps. That is why we must strive to ensure the return of displaced persons and refugees to their towns and villages.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Last year, when I spoke before the General Assembly, I called for the creation of an international coalition against corruption and for the recovery of pillaged money. It would be a coalition similar to the International Coalition Against Terrorism. Today I reiterate that same appeal. We cannot eradicate terrorism if we do not dry up its financing. That is the only way to do it. We also need to eradicate corruption, which is the very basis of policies related to violence and terrorism. Corruption destroys State economies and hinders our people in their efforts to achieve progress and prosperity. We must now address the crime of genocide and the massacres of the Yazidi people in Iraq. These acts were aimed at ending that people’s existence.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Similarly, if we surrender in the fight against rampant corruption or with regard to interference in the domestic affairs of our sovereign States, that will hinder efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. Against this backdrop, we hope to receive aid from all friendly countries in the international community in order to locate smuggled funds and identify corrupt people who smuggle money for financing outlaw and extremist groups. Corruption is a scourge suffered by many countries. It has stripped many Iraqis of their country’s resources. For many years, corruption has contributed to the destruction of Iraq. The Iraqi people are bitter and angry about the impact of corruption.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Before and after the emergence of the pandemic, Iraq faced another scourge that is no less dangerous — that of terrorism and corruption. We succeeded in vanquishing military terrorism, while liberating our cities with strong will power and sacrifices made by our army forces, the popular crowd and the Peshmerga, with the support of the international coalition and our neighbours. Nevertheless, the fight is still going on against terrorism, transnational extremism and sleeper cells in the deserts of our country. We cannot underestimate the threat posed by terrorism and the possibility that it may re-emerge or that the terrorists may reorganize. We believe that any relaxation in our response to terrorism or any preoccupation with regional conflicts would allow obscurantist forces to regroup and gain strength.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Moreover, we are all responsible for combating misinformation about the pandemic. Indeed, ignorance and misinformation jeopardize the lives of millions. Early planning plays a crucial role in guaranteeing equity in the distribution of a vaccine when it becomes available. We will need to prevent its market distribution from becoming a purely commercial act in order to allow the poorest countries to have access to the vaccine for all their citizens. Given our limited resources owing to the circumstances in which we find ourselves, Iraq is combating the pandemic and trying to curb its effects with a series of measures and precautions. Despite these efforts, we still have much more to do, notwithstanding our limited capabilities and weak infrastructure, in the realm of medical care and medical services.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We are amid a historic paradox as we meet and communicate at a time when we are called upon to socially distance. We are hindered by the pandemic but our persistence to live makes us work hard to face it. The pandemic in any city or village on the globe is a continued threat to the entire world. It compels us to work in solidarity and cooperation among States and communities regardless of our differences. That will enable us to eradicate the pandemic or, at least, to curb its effects. This pandemic also behoves the developed nations to cooperate by sharing experiences and information in order to combat it. Developed nations must help developing nations in order to create a healthy environment that will allow them to combat the pandemic and limit its harmful effects on our communities and our lives.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In the name of God the clement and the merciful, Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Your Majesties, Honours and Excellencies Allow me to convey to you our greetings of peace from the city of peace, Baghdad. I am delighted to greet you on behalf of the Republic of Iraq, a founding Member of the United Nations. I wish the General Assembly every success in its current session. This is the first time in the history of the United Nations that the General Assembly is meeting virtually. It is a consequence of the current COVID-19 pandemic — a cross-border threat that threatens our life and means of life, as well as our economies and communities in general. This virtual meeting is a real symbol of the radical changes in our way of life and how we communicate.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Peace is the message of Moses, Christ, the messengers, the prophets and of good people. It is the basis of all religions and great human doctrines. We start with the call for peace and with the call for peace we end. Peace be upon us all with God’s mercy and blessings.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is our duty to support and meet those aspirations. We have serious challenges ahead of us, but with our will and determination, alongside the support and backing of the international community, we will prevail, God willing. I salute our citizens, our young people and the families of our martyrs, as well as the victims of oppression in mass graves and of the Anfal genocide. I salute their legitimate aspiration to live a life of freedom, dignity, peace and stability. It is our duty to support and meet those aspirations. We have serious challenges ahead of us, but with our will and determination, alongside the support and backing of the international community, we will prevail, God willing. Peace is the greeting of Islam and the essence of Islam throughout history.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Mesopotamia is the cradle of civilization and has done great service to human civilization, just as it has suffered and witnessed many disasters. We read the message of peace in the faces of our mothers and fathers and in the smiles of our sons and daughters, whose childhoods have been scarred by war. We see it in the eyes of our young men and young women, in the alleys and streets of our cities that have been beaten down by conflict. We all read the message of peace in our consciousness as a ray of hope for future generations and all humankind. I salute our citizens, our young people and the families of our martyrs, as well as the victims of oppression in mass graves and of the Anfal genocide. I salute their legitimate aspiration to live a life of freedom, dignity, peace and stability.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We believe that efforts to defeat terrorism must be accompanied by effective efforts to eliminate corruption, which is the political manifestation of violence and the main source for financing terrorism. Without drying up the sources that finance terrorism and preventing public funds from being diverted from their proper goal of funding education and services to funding social, political and security crises, we cannot take firm steps towards stability. The world must take serious action to establish an international alliance, similar to the international alliance against terrorism, combating the corruption networks that smuggle and launder money and drying up their sources of financing. That will enable Iraq to regain its stolen assets and eradicate this dangerous scourge.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Iraq needs comprehensive reconstruction, and we hope that such projects will provide the legal and administrative environment we need to encourage private investment and meet Iraqis’ desperate need for services and employment opportunities. Iraq is a promising market. Given the needs of Iraqis and our natural and human resources, we can transform our country from an arena of conflict and violence into an economic hub in the region. Some may think that this is a far-fetched dream, and I admit there are great obstacles and challenges involved, but I am confident that it is both necessary and possible at the national level, in Iraq itself, and also at the regional and world levels. Terrorism and corruption are two sides of the same coin.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The Iraqis are continuing their battle to achieve the renaissance that they deserve, and to combat corruption, empower young people and women and achieve sustainable development. Those challenges continue and come on top of those of returning IDPs and rebuilding ruined areas. A few days ago, the Iraqi Government drafted a law establishing a council for reconstruction, and together with our Prime Minister, we will submit it to our Parliament in hopes that it will be enacted. The reconstruction council will investigate rebuilding our infrastructure through the joint efforts of the Government and the Iraqi and foreign private sectors.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Advancing education, health care and sustainable development is the right way to put us on track towards combating extremist ideology and uprooting terrorism, by raising generations capable of building a better future. Throughout history, Iraq’s civilization, history and religious, national and sectarian pluralism has made us a beacon of tolerance and cooperation and religious and intellectual brotherhood, as well as a platform for disseminating thought, culture, literature and science. The Mesopotamian civilization, one of the oldest in human history, represents an important and impregnable barrier to the growth and spread of extremist ideology, whether religious, sectarian or nationalistic.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We hope that there will be more understanding for Iraq’s situation and for our desire to complete our victory over terrorism, rebuild what previous wars destroyed, return displaced persons to their homes and offer work opportunities to our young people. We need a consensus both internationally and regionally in order to ensure continued stability and combat extremist ideologies and terrorism. However, the most important task at hand is that of enacting the reforms necessary to secure good governance for our citizens, combat corruption and offer our young people job opportunities. Those are urgent challenges that we are addressing, and we believe that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will be an important framework for our efforts.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are making efforts to raise the level of bilateral relationships with those two neighbours in order to achieve more development in different spheres. A federal, democratic and stable Iraq will present a chance to join together all of our brothers and neighbours in the region and to enhance understanding and agreement among the countries of the region to create a regional system that is based on economic integration and common security. The stability achieved in Iraq is valuable and important. We must not take it lightly; rather we must work on entrenching it. We expect our neighbours and the international community not to make Iraq pay for their own disagreements and conflicts. Our hands and hearts are open to all.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We hope that our country will become an arena for building and stability, not for tension and conflict. Our interests and the security of the region are contingent upon a good neighbourly relationship between Iraq and its surrounding countries. Iraq’s policy today is contrary to that of the former regime in terms of dealing with its neighbours militarily. Our relationship is strengthened by our common Arab and Gulf roots. We insist on growing those relationships and developing them as an important part of our stability and security. We also care about our relationship with our neighbour Iran, with whom we share cultural and religious ties, as well as mutual and cross-cutting interests. We care as well about our neighbour to the north, Turkey.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“From this rostrum, we emphasize our call to establish a joint security system in the region and a system of economic integration and political and security coordination so as to uproot terrorism and ensure stability. Iraq’s approach to the crises in the region is based on fundamental principles. We neither want our country to be part of any regional or international conflict nor an arena for settling regional and international scores. Our people have paid a high price for wars and conflicts, and Iraq will not be a part of any war against another party. We have had enough wars. We do not want a new war. We do not want any people to suffer the ravages of war, as we have suffered. Iraq will not be a launching pad for aggression against any of our neighbouring countries.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“This mix of different components — Shiites and Sunnis, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, Muslims, Christians, Sabaeans, Yazidis and Shabaks — makes Iraq a contributing factor in help establish peace and understanding among countries. It also allows my country to be an active part of all efforts to undertake reconstruction, make progress and be innovative. For a very long time, Iraq was a battleground for others. We and the region have paid a very high price because of the instability in Iraq. Our interests and those of the region make it imperative for Iraq to become a bridge to build understanding between its brothers and neighbours.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“There is common ground between us that we all agree upon — we all desire a better tomorrow for our children. Let us work to calm the situation and work constructively. Despite the disagreements in the region, the stability of Iraq is of common interest to everyone and could be a launching pad from which to establish important common ground. The absence of Iraq was a source of tension and instability throughout the region. Iraq is now recovering, and we are determined to move the country towards permanent stability. Iraq plays a pivotal role in the region and has many geopolitical, economic, cultural and religious considerations. Iraq is the cradle of our prophet Abraham, peace be upon him. Iraq has Muslim and Arab neighbours. It is a meeting point of great nations in the region, be they Arabs, Persians, Turks or Kurds.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We do not need a new war in the region, especially since the most recent war on terrorism has not yet been settled definitively. Our position is firm: it is important to give precedence to dialogue over tension and escalation. That position is based on facts and a desire to defend the interests of the peoples of the region. We believe that combating terrorism and extremism and achieving economic transformation in order to offer work opportunities to our unemployed youth take precedence over current disagreements. The solution starts with a comprehensive understanding based on the concepts of non-interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region and mutual respect for their national sovereignty. It also lies in upholding the values of human rights.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In view of those current dangers, supporting Yemenis in arriving at a comprehensive political solution that restores peace throughout the country is a necessity. Attempts to target the security of the Gulf and our sister country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia constitute a dangerous development. We in Iraq are concerned by that tension and escalation. Our security is tied to the security of the Gulf and the region. The international community must offer serious assistance in containing such escalation, which could have disastrous repercussions on the security of the region and the world. The situation in the region is dangerous and threatens to bring about disastrous consequences that we must contain. We have had enough wars.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We emphasize the need to work seriously to reach a just and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian question, in accordance with international resolutions and in a manner that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. We reiterate our solidarity with the Palestinian people, their suffering and their legitimate right to establish their independent State on their territory. However, the recent announcements to annex the Jordan Valley and northern Red Sea are a blatant violation of international law and an exacerbating factor that will only prolong the crisis and deepen the wound that threatens the future of stability in the region and the world. The continued war in Yemen is a source of great concern in the light of the security and humanitarian repercussions that are affecting the region.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Terrorism takes advantage of security and political vacuums. We must work together to fill those vacuums. The Middle East region suffers conflicts and wars year after year. We must seriously unify our efforts in order to turn the areas of conflict into areas of renaissance. The ongoing tragic situation in Syria, coupled with an environment that is favourable to terrorism and extremism, requires effective efforts to allow Syrians to arrive at a permanent political solution that will achieve stability and security and guarantee the rights of Syrians to peace, security and freedom and enable them to determine their own future without any guardianship or interference.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)