BAGHDAD, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iraq and the United Nations on Saturday officially marked the conclusion of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), signaling a shift from crisis-management to a "new chapter" focused on development and sustained partnership.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres participated in a ceremony held in Baghdad marking the end of the mission, according to a statement by al-Sudani's media office.
During a joint press conference, al-Sudani said that the conclusion of UNAMI's mandate "does not mean the end of the partnership between Iraq and the United Nations."
"It marks the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation, particularly in the fields of development, economic growth, and advisory support," he said, adding that the partnership has shifted from crisis-management efforts to long-term development planning and reliance on national capabilities.
For his part, Guterres underscored the profound changes in Iraq, saying that Iraq is now a "normal country," and relations between the UN and Iraq will become normal relations with the end of UNAMI.
"Many UN agencies, funds and specialized programs will remain here, continuing their vital development work in support of Iraq and Iraqis," Guterres said.
In May 2024, the UN Security Council unanimously decided to extend UNAMI's mandate for a final 19-month period to Dec. 31, 2025, after which the mission will cease all work and operations.
UNAMI is a political mission established by the Security Council in 2003 at the request of the Iraqi government in the wake of the invasion by a U.S.-led coalition. Its main mandate is to provide advice, support, and assistance to the government and people of Iraq in various fields. ■
