Given the typical political, economic, social and security conditions in Iraq and the region, national unity can play a key role in helping that country address its current challenges including poverty and terrorism, a high-ranking United Nations diplomat said in Tehran on Monday.
The UN special envoy for Iraq Yan Kubish made the remark in a meeting with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, IRNA reported.
Pointing to the need and significance of international and regional harmony and cohesion to defuse the deepening crises sparked by terror cells and their backers, Kubish asserted, "Strengthening the central government in Baghdad, encouraging national consensus and building international support to tackle the social/security challenges are high on the UN priority list."
Kubish believes that the dire situation in the war-torn Arab state is too complex to be dealt with by one party, which explains why the world body wants to exchange views with different parties to help develop an effective alternative.
Needless to say Iran, a friend and ally of the neighboring Muslim country, will be a major player in this regard. Appreciating UN efforts to help restore peace to Iraq, Zarif said, "Terrorism cannot be eradicated in Iraq unless the international community stands up for its government and its fight against extremism."
Iraqi stability indeed has a direct impact on the security of the strategic region and Tehran has always emphasized on its neighbor's national integrity and sovereignty, the minister told the UN diplomat.
Criticizing the poor performance of US-led anti-terror coalition to combat the so-called Islamic State militant group spreading death and destruction across Syria and Iraq, Zarif noted that the UN along with political and religious leaders including Kurds, Shia and Sunni has had a prominent role in the search for normalcy in the two Arab countries.
In a separate meeting with the chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Kubish praised Iran's efforts to reconstruct and promote peace and welfare in Iraq. The ongoing political and economic reforms in Iraq cannot produce results unless Iran shares its valuable experience with its Arab neighbor.
"Iran has always tried to fulfill its obligation in helping its close neighbor settle domestic disputes," Boroujerdi said, stating that Iran is unwavering in its opposition to the disintegration of Iraq and has done its best to help Baghdad safeguard its national unity and integrity. The UN envoy also called on Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran's Expediency Council.
"Iran welcomes whatever efforts made to restore peace to Iraq," Velayati said, expressing regret that some countries are contributing to the slow disintegration of that country "oblivious to the fact that such a dream will neither be realized nor solve any problem."
Referring to economic reforms implemented by Iraq's Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, Kubish expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the growing number of Iraqi refugees. "Iraq is in dire need of international and regional aid to provide its people with education, health and welfare services," he told Velayati.
