Iraq: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres visits Baghdad
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres alongside the Iraqi Foreign Minister in Baghdad on March 1, 2023. AP - Hadi Mizban
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Six years after his previous visit, Antonio Guterres came to reaffirm the commitment of the international organization in Ira.
He praised the work of the new Iraqi government and made climate issues and the return of displaced persons to their provinces of origin central to his visit.
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With our correspondent in Baghdad,
Marie-Charlotte Roupie
“
My previous visit to Iraq was in a moment of emergency, today is a visit of solidarity and hope
”.
With these words, the Secretary General of the United Nations,
Antonio Guterres
sets the scene.
Last visit in 2017
His last arrival dates back to 2017. The Islamic State group still controlled part of Iraqi territory and millions of people were crammed into camps for the displaced.
Today, Iraq is living a period of relative stability, it is time, according to him, to rebuild.
After meeting the Iraqi President and Prime Minister, he praised the government's efforts to repatriate its nationals and the families of IS fighters present in refugee camps in Syria.
But he calls for respect for the commitments made to allow the return of the displaced, in particular Yazidis.
"
We have a duty to the Yazidis of Sinjar to improve the security situation on the ground, ensure dignified conditions and promote voluntary return to their homes
," he said.
Coping with global warming
His visit continues this Thursday in Iraqi Kurdistan where he will visit refugee and rehabilitation camps.
Another important point of his visit to Baghdad, he called for international cooperation to support Iraq in the face of climate change and the scarcity of water resources.
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Iraq
UN
Antonio Guterres
Environment
Cooperation and Development
Humanitarian
Diplomacy