Latest news with #Mohamedal-Hassan
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
UNAMI chief hopes Erbil-Baghdad financial deal holds
Also in Iraq MPs slam Baghdad for banning Kurdish in disputed areas Ali al-Gharbi: One of world's hottest places Iraq dismantles extremist group financing network Iraqi man remarries at age 92 A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Mohamed al-Hassan, head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), said on Saturday he hopes the new agreement between Erbil and Baghdad will be a final settlement of long-running disputes over finances and oil. "God willing, it will be an agreement that ends all disputes and we won't return to this topic because it affects the rights of ordinary people in Iraq. I have a firm conviction that with the wisdom of Iraq's leaders, whether in Baghdad or Erbil or elsewhere, we hope for all the best," Hassan told Rudaw's Ziyad Ismail. Earlier this month, the federal and regional governments reached a new deal over finances and oil. Several similar deals have failed in the past. The Iraqi government approved the agreement during a cabinet meeting and subsequently resumed the disbursement of the salaries of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) civil servants. Tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalated in late May when the federal finance ministry suspended transfers of funds, saying the KRG had exceeded its 12.67 percent share of the federal budget and failed to deliver oil to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). The freeze affected more than 1.2 million public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. Iraq will hold parliamentary elections in November. The UNAMI chief said they have "a fundamental and active role in these elections. We call on Iraqis to be honest and trustworthy in their electoral decision." UNAMI's mission in Iraq will expire at the end of the year.
Rudaw Net
03-07-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
President Barzani, UNAMI chief discuss regional developments
Also in Kurdistan Explosive-laden drone intercepted near Erbil airport Duhok forest catches fire Explosive-laden drone crashes in Sulaimani province KRG calls for resumption of oil exports, salary payments A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday received Mohamed al-Hassan, head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), discussing the latest developments in the Middle East and Erbil-Baghdad ties. 'In the meeting, they discussed the political and general situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as cooperation and coordination between UNAMI and relevant parties in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. They also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East and their impact and effects,' said a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. Barzani further thanked UNAMI for its support to Baghdad and Erbil over the years, reiterating the Kurdistan Region's readiness to support the mission until its completion. UNAMI was established in August 2003 at the request of Iraq under the Security Council Resolution 1500 to support Baghdad's developmental efforts. Its mandate was extended annually. While UNAMI does not directly implement developmental and humanitarian programs, it plays an advisory role in facilitating partnership and technical cooperation between the Iraqi government and the 20 UN agencies, funds, and programs operating in the country. Their mission for Iraq is set to conclude on December 31, 2025. During the meeting, both officials stressed that resolving issues between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is 'necessary,' with the presidency saying their resolution 'is in the interest of all of Iraq and serves to maintain peace, stability, and the country's development.' Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad intensified in late May when the federal finance ministry suspended all budget transfers to the KRG, including the salaries of more than 1.2 million public employees. The ministry cited the KRG's alleged overspending beyond its 12.67 percent share of the 2025 federal budget. Kurdish political parties have strongly condemned the suspension, describing it as unconstitutional and politically driven. Speaking at the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum in Erbil in late October, UNAMI chief Mohamed al-Hassan remarked that the international mission is winding down in Iraq because the country no longer requires such a broad mandate and instead needs more targeted support from specialized agencies. UNAMI's responsibilities in Iraq have included fostering political dialogue among Iraqi factions and between Iraq and its neighbors. The mission has also supported electoral logistics, monitored human rights conditions, and coordinated humanitarian aid in conflict-affected areas. Given these roles, some critics have warned that ending the mission could reduce international oversight, particularly during elections.
Shafaq News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Sulaimani Forum 2025: UN Iraq envoy says mission no longer needed
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Mohamed al-Hassan, declared that the country has made 'substantial progress' in its political and security environment. 'Iraq has reached a stage where it no longer needs the UN mission —an indicator of the improved situation,' al-Hassan remarked during the 9th Sulaimani Forum, emphasizing that Iraq's stability underpins regional security. He also described the upcoming 2025 elections as 'a key constitutional juncture,' noting the UN's continued commitment to supporting Iraq's reform and development. The Special Representative urged coordinated regional and global efforts to advance stability, peace, and respect for human dignity.
