Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Representative in Iraq, explained the Security Council in New York, warned that “public frustration is running at a high level”, because many citizens have lost all faith in politicians.
Their prolonged inaction has sparked protests and protests, culminating in deadly clashes last August.
The consequences are dire, change is underway
“These tragic developments are undoubtedly the result of the Iraqi political party’s inability to pronounce death,” he told delegates.
“In other words: artists across the spectrum failed to raise the nation’s first interest. They left the country in a long delay, causing further anger already.”
Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert said the situation is changing dramatically. Although parliament resumed in late September, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces, among other acts of violence.
“And we haven’t seen the end of it yet. Last night, after three days of rocket attacks, Basra witnessed heavy fighting, while minor incidents were reported in other southern governorates,” he reported.
Despite the renewed calls for elections, he wonders what guarantees are in place to ensure that they will not be held again in vain.
Commemoration 2019 protest
This past Saturday, October 1, marked three years since thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in anti-corruption protests across the country. Hundreds of people were killed, and many were seriously injured, kidnapped, threatened, or beaten.
The protests resulted in the former government leaving, and in early elections held last October.
“In other words, and I say it often: last year’s elections were very hard work. And with this in mind, the absence of a functioning government 12 months later is difficult to justify,” he said.
Although new protests are expected on Saturday, the return is very small, the representative reported, “not because the Iraqis are suddenly content, but because they do not want to be instrumental in the ongoing power struggle – as explained abundantly by many who took to the streets in 2019.”
There is no ‘magic tree’
Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), has supported the national dialogue.
While he was reluctant to discuss initiatives publicly, the ambassador revealed that he had made “consensus agreements” with the parties, including holding bilateral meetings on potential maps and conducting naval diplomacy.
“Believe me, we tried. Non-stop. That is, we do not have a magic wand. Ultimately, it all comes down to political will” he told the Council.
Appeal for communication
All parties have made “strategic and statistical errors” in the time since the election, he said, and have missed valuable opportunities to resolve their differences.
“And with the risks of further conflict and bloodshed still real, taking on who does what when is no longer an option,” he stressed.
“Therefore, it is time for the Iraqi leaders – all of them – to have a dialogue, unite the important Iraqi interests and pull the country back from the target. In other words, All leaders should take responsibility and return to the place where it belongs: on the people of Iraq.”
Address important issues
Regarding solutions, Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert expressed the need for “True and timely discussion” next to willing to compromise. Bringing a functioning government alone is the first step to overcome the current crisis, he said.
The UN representative added that many important issues must still be addressed, including the importance of a government budget, while action to transform the transition must begin.
He pointed to 20 years of missed opportunities for meaningful dialogue and poor reforms in Iraq, saying leaders must acknowledge that system changes is important for the future of the country.
Fight corruption, political patronage
This is also important to fight damagewhich he describes as being “an important feature of current political economy”. Previous reform efforts have been “derailed or thwarted”, he said.
Mrs. Hennis-Plasschaert also addressed the related issue of reliance on patronage and consumerism, which has resulted in a ballooning, ineffective public sector. Oil-rich Iraq is also a country where private and sectional interests have led to resources being diverted from investing in national development.
“What I’m saying is The Iraqi political system and government ignore the needs of the Iraqi people, or even worse, actively work against them. Now, widespread corruption is a major underlying cause of Iraqi vulnerability. And in fact, no leader can claim to be safe from it,” he said.
“Keeping the system ‘as is’ will backfire, sooner rather than later. That said, it is necessary to frame as precisely: a systemrather than a collection of people or a series of events.”
Iraqi hands are sovereign
Turning to other matters, Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert condemned an Iranian attack in northern Iraq last week targeting Kurdish opposition groups.
Iran and Turkey have been waging an offensive in the region, establishing a “new normal” for Iraq, and calling for an end to “indiscriminate acts” that have caused deaths and injuries.
“No neighbor should treat Iraq as its backyard,” he said. “No neighbor should always be allowed, and without punishment, violate Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. However it happened. Time and again. ”
