6 December 2024
Mr. President,
I thank the SRSG and Head of UNAMI, Mohamed Al Hassan for his briefing. On this occasion, I would also like to welcome his arrival in Iraq serving as the new SRSG since October. I hope that he will successfully steer UNAMI in the right direction through this difficult transition period over the next year.
Also, I thank Ms. Hanaa Edwar, President of Iraqi Al-Amal Association, for her briefing.
We took note of the recent two reports of the Secretary-General, covering recent updates on UNAMI activities and developments pertaining to missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives.
Mr. President,
UNAMI has contributed significantly to the stability of Iraq and the region. Even though UNAMI entered a transition period, its role has continued to be maintained at the same level. According to the Secretary General’s report on the implementation of resolution 2732 (2024), the election in the Kurdistan region in October was conducted in an orderly and peaceful voting process with no major incidents, which was welcomed by both the President of the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the President of Iraq. This is largely due to the support provided by UNAMI for the electoral system. Japan hopes that this maintenance of order will continue in the future.
In addition, Japan commends the serious efforts by the Iraqi government in combatting terrorism in a diligent and effective manner. We are glad to hear, with the support of the international community, that it has succeeded in eliminating a number of terrorists, including the leaders of Daesh-related groups in the region.
Also, Japan understands the challenging situation confronted by approximately 1 million internally displaced persons in Iraq. As a result of Government efforts and the coordinated support of the United Nations, including UNAMI, 4.9 million internally displaced persons have returned so far, and we hope that the Iraqi authorities will continue this progress based on the new roadmap submitted in August of this year.
Mr. President,
Japan strongly hopes to see further positive steps to be taken on the issue of missing persons between Iraq and Kuwait. We recognize that the task of searching for those who went missing or died during the war is not an easy one and will require a lot of time and effort, such as obtaining aerial photographs of wide areas and conducting detailed DNA testing. However, still nearly half of the missing persons have yet to be found, and Japan expects the Iraqi authorities to make every effort to resolve this issue, and in particular, to make an active and stable contribution to the Technical Subcommittee. In addition, it is encouraged to actively discuss options for a mechanism that provides continuous reporting mechanism authorized by the Security Council before the UNAMI mandate expires.
Both Iraq and Kuwait have overcome the turmoil of the past and are now working together hand in hand. The resolution of the remaining problem is important for reconciliation and lasting peace. Japan hopes that the tireless efforts of both countries, in cooperation with the international community, will bring an end to this problem as soon as possible.
I thank you, Mr. President.