“It is a great pleasure for me to return to Baghdad,” said Antonio Guterres upon his arrival in the Iraqi capital on the night of Tuesday February 28 to Wednesday March 1. Six years after his last visit, the UN Secretary General assured the Iraqi people of his “solidarity” and “trust”, as well as of the support of the United Nations to accompany the country towards peace.
“It’s a solidarity visit. Solidarity with the people and democratic institutions of Iraq, and a solidarity that means the United Nations is fully committed to supporting the consolidation of the country’s institutions,” he added, according to the transcript of his remarks transmitted by its services.
He also expressed “his confidence that Iraqis will be able to overcome the difficulties and challenges they face through an open and inclusive dialogue”, emphasizing his “admiration” for this population.
The Secretary General, supporting the government’s efforts to bring back Iraqis who have left the country, also hoped for Iraq “a future of peace and prosperity, with consolidated democratic institutions”.
Antonio Guterres is due to meet on Wednesday with Prime Minister Mohamed Chia al-Soudani, as well as with representatives of women’s and youth rights groups, according to a statement from his spokesperson. On Thursday, he will visit a camp for displaced people in the north of the country, before going to Erbil to meet with representatives of the regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan.
His last visit to the country dates back to the spring of 2017. He will then go to Qatar, in particular for the summit of the least developed countries.
