Baghdad: Europe and the Arabs
Days before the end of the United Nations mission in Iraq, its head, Mohammed al-Hassan, said that Iraq is a success story and can be a model for the Middle East region. He called on the international community to support the Iraqi people and their leaders. According to the UN News daily, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), a political mission, was established in 2003. On May 31, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mission's mandate for a final time until December 31, 2025, at the formal request of the Iraqi government. Mohammed al-Hassan, head of UNAMI, stated that the mission's presence was at Iraq's request and that its termination would also be at Iraq's request. In an interview with UN News, he said that Iraqi officials "found that UNAMI's mandate had largely achieved its objectives and that it was time for them to take matters into their own hands, like other countries." However, he emphasized that the mission's departure did not mean the UN would leave, affirming that its specialized agencies would continue their work in Iraq. Al-Hassan reviewed UNAMI's achievements, including supporting Iraq in the security sector and defeating ISIS, assisting in holding free and fair elections, and promoting respect for human rights. When asked, “After more than 20 years, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is closing its doors on December 31. Why are you leaving Iraq now?” Mohammed Al-Hassan replied: “Because the mission came at the request of the Iraqis. And ending the mission also came at the request of the Iraqis. We at the United Nations always respect the wishes of countries, especially those that host these missions. You cannot have a mission in a country without their consent, request, and willingness to cooperate. The Iraqis have hosted this mission for more than two decades. The work was arduous, and they found that UNAMI’s mandate had largely achieved its objectives, and it was time for them to take matters into their own hands, just like other countries. I truly agree with this approach and wish them every success. I assure them of my readiness, and that of the United Nations, to continue working with them in any way they need, whether in terms of advice or otherwise.” When asked whether Iraq’s request for the mission to leave meant that it had failed to fulfill its mandate or accomplish its tasks, he did not answer directly. Or has the mission been successfully completed and is no longer needed?

Al-Hassan said: The mission has indeed been successfully completed. There were three remaining files: the issue of missing persons from the State of Kuwait and nationals of third countries since the war and the invasion of Kuwait; the issue of Kuwaiti property; and the Kuwaiti National Archives.

Slight progress has been made in recent months. We have managed to hand over more than four hundred boxes containing Kuwaiti belongings. However, there is also the file of missing Kuwaitis, which is a humanitarian issue for them.

These are the three remaining files. However, the Security Council was able to issue a resolution establishing a mechanism to follow up on these specific files.

Iraq was removed from Chapter VII of the UN Charter some time ago, as well as from the political mechanism for following up on political matters, and has become like any other member state of the United Nations. Humanitarian issues are being pursued within a humanitarian framework, and I am confident that the Iraqis have indeed been able to achieve the goals they hoped for from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

In response to the question of what the mission's last day there will look like? Mohammed al-Hassan replied: “This is the first time I have headed a mission and overseen its closure. However, we brought forward that date with a ceremony requested by the Iraqis, and the United Nations agreed. But the actual end of the mission, not the celebration, will be, God willing, December 31st. After December 31st, all UNAMI personnel will leave Iraq.”

Regarding what this means for the UN presence in Iraq, al-Hassan said: “The United Nations will remain in Iraq through its specialized agencies, and also through communication between Iraq, as a member of the Human Rights Council, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The United Nations will be present, and its presence may even be more extensive than before, because the work has now shifted to technical matters in climate issues, health issues, education issues, and technology issues.

Iraq has emphasized its need for the support of the United Nations and international organizations in certain areas, including the banking sector. Iraq also suffered for years under sanctions, and later under unilateral sanctions.

God willing, we will see coordination and communication between Iraq and countries such as the United States, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Turkey, and the European Union in the coming days.” In Iraq currently, and the number may vary, there are approximately 72 banks.

38 of these banks are under sanctions. No country can embark on a sustainable economic and developmental phase—and the Iraqi people want this—without lifting these sanctions on these banks. There are some reservations about them, which may be valid, but Iraq today has a desire to turn the page on the past and engage more with the international community. What is the greatest achievement, or the biggest difference the mission has made in the lives of Iraqis?

Mohammed Al-Hassan: I believe there are some important milestones in Iraq's history. Iraqis today can go to the polls freely and without pressure, and vote for whomever they choose to determine their future. This means the choice of freedom, and it is in the hands of the Iraqi people, firstly.

Secondly, the international community, specifically the international coalition, in coordination with the Iraqis and with sacrifices made mostly by Iraqis, was able to defeat ISIS. 

This terrorist ideology that destroyed Iraq and many other countries is, thank God, no longer a threat to Iraq. This is one of the most important areas I consider crucial. No country can transition to a stage of development and growth without stability and its foundations, and thank God, Iraq has reached this point.

There were some measures and procedures imposed by the international community as sanctions against the previous regime and against Iraq in the past. Iraq is different today, and it is time to consider lifting these measures that harm the economic life and the movement of Iraqis, including issues of air transport, travel, and visa restrictions.

Thank God, we have begun to notice that many diplomatic missions are returning to Iraq. Iraq is rich in resources—economic resources, developmental resources, and human resources—a country of 46 million people, all of whom, God willing, are distinguished in science and technology.

This country is, God willing, on the verge of an Iraqi-led Marshall Plan, without any external assistance, to redraw the true position of this country and its people, not only on the Arab map but also on the global map. Iraq is a founding member of the United Nations and was a member of the League of Nations, so I don't believe Iraqis will accept anything less. I am a great admirer of Iraqis, their history, and their people, and I have only ever experienced their respect.

Honestly, in all my life, I have never encountered a more generous people than this one anywhere in the world. I also hope they will move away from sectarianism and build a future for all Iraqis. It is time for all Iraqis to feel a sense of belonging to this country based on equal citizenship, not on affiliation with any particular party, group, or sect. All religious groups, from Christians to Jews to Zoroastrians to Mandaeans to Yazidis, and all ethnicities, from Kurds to Arabs and others, including Persians, who are part of this country and considered citizens of this country, as well as Turkmen and Shabaks, should feel that they are Iraqi. There should be equality among all Iraqis based on equal citizenship, not on any other considerations.

UN News: Speaking of equality, we must address the rights of Iraqi women. This has been a priority for the UN mission. Where do Iraqi women stand now? Mohammed Al-Hassan: In my personal opinion, I have no doubt that Iraqi women are among the strongest women in the world. The greatest sacrifices made by the Iraqi people have come from Iraqi women. Their sons are martyrs, their husbands are martyrs, and they were the ones who repaired household appliances during the sanctions and the Oil-for-Food Program, among other things. They endured decades of wars and even sanctions.

But Iraqi women persevered, and because of Iraqi women, Iraqi society persevered. I haven't found anything against Iraqi women among the Iraqi politicians I've interacted with and those in positions of power. On the contrary, they are among the foremost supporters of Iraqi women.

For example, one of the oldest personal status laws is the Iraqi Personal Status Law of the 1950s, around 1957, which granted women rights at a time when other Arab countries did not have such entitlements for women.

There has been some setback, and this is due to the lack of security. Iraqis were primarily concerned with security, but they have achieved it and now have a safe and secure state. From my perspective, I believe this is a priority for Iraqis: improving the status of women's rights and human rights in general. This is what I sensed from the current Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who, incidentally, previously served as Minister of Human Rights. But the international community must also offer advice to Iraqis with kindness, not coercion.

Iraqis are a dignified and proud people who do not accept dictates. They are a people of deep-rooted history, and if you treat them with kindness, you will get everything from them, not pressure and coercion.

I believe that sanctions are not the way to deal with countries in general, and Iraq in particular. Iraq is more honorable and dignified than that, and they have the power to change the human rights situation for all groups, not just women. Women occupy a central position in Iraqi society.

I am one of those who said—and I said this in Arabic—that I wished I spoke Kurdish so that the people of Iraq, especially those in the Kurdistan Region, could hear me. It is truly a beautiful region, and I advise everyone to visit Iraq, including Kurdistan.

Women there are strong in Kurdistan, strong in Iraq, strong in the south, strong in all regions of Iraq. This concern from the international community is justified because of the repercussions of the past in Iraq, especially what ISIS did. But let's not forget that Iraqis are the victims of ISIS, not ISIS itself, including Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, and Yazidis.

The Yazidis may be the greatest victims, and unfortunately, I leave Iraq with a wish and a hope. I hope that Iraqi leaders will be receptive to this appeal. It is time for the displaced to return from the camps, especially the Yazidi children who are in areas and camps lacking basic necessities like schools and hospitals.

It is time for them to return to their homes, particularly in Sinjar. And I am not only speaking about the Yazidis, but also about all the people of Iraq, regardless of their background.