Statement by Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on Iraq.
As the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) closes this month and Iraq continues to progress, the United Kingdom encourages a continued focus on priorities that will underpin Iraq's long-term stability and prosperity.
These include upholding Iraq's sovereignty and constructive engagement with international partners, strengthening the rule of law and the effectiveness of state institutions, and delivering urgent economic reforms to create opportunities for all Iraqis.
We also urge greater efforts to tackle corruption and diversify Iraq's economy. The United Kingdom stands ready to support Iraq in making progress on these objectives.
The recent parliamentary elections were a significant milestone, and we commend the determination of the Iraqi people to shape their future through the ballot box. We hope to see a swift conclusion to the process of government formation.
We also commend the efforts of all those involved in delivering the electoral process including the support offered by UNAMI.
As this UN Security Council chapter closes, we hope that Iraq will continue to partner with the United Nations, particularly on human rights. The United Kingdom welcomes steps to improve women's political participation in Iraq.
We encourage the Iraqi authorities to enact robust child protection and women's rights legislation, and to ensure all survivors of sexual and gender-based violence receive the accountability and support they deserve.
On the missing persons file, we welcome the recent handover of 400 boxes of Kuwaiti national archive materials by Iraq. We commend the cooperation on this important issue between all relevant stakeholders, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and we echo the Secretary-General's call for continued efforts in this regard.
We look forward to the upcoming appointment of a Senior Representative to support meaningful cooperation on this file, particularly around identifying new witnesses, harnessing modern technology, and sustaining momentum on outstanding cases of missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals.
The United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to Iraq's sovereignty, stability, and prosperity, and stands ready to support the swift and full implementation of Resolution 2792 on missing persons.
Allow me to close by expressing our deep appreciation to SRSG Al Hassan and to all those who have served in UNAMI over the years, for their invaluable contribution to Iraq's stability.
