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Congratulating Iraq's new leadership, UN envoy urges national unity government

Congratulating Iraq's new leadership, UN envoy urges national unity government

SRSG Ashraf Qazi
Congratulating Iraq's new political leadership, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today called on the elected officials to form a government of national unity.

Congratulating Iraq's new political leadership, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today called on the elected officials to form a government of national unity.

In a message delivered on behalf of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Special Representative Ashraf Jehangir Qazi voiced hope that the election of Iraq's Presidency, Prime Minister and Speaker “leads to the strengthening of democratic institutions and consolidation of the political process,” according to a statement released by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

Iraq's political leaders should “seize this new political momentum to form a government of national unity in a manner that will heal political and social divisions,” said Mr. Qazi, calling on all Iraqis “to unite in a spirit of national reconciliation and compromise to foster the establishment of peace and stability in Iraq.”

Mr. Qazi offered his best wishes to Mr. Talabani, as well as to Adel Abdul Mahdi and Tareq al-Hashemi on their election by the Council of Representatives as President and Vice-Presidents of Iraq; Jawad al-Maliki, the Prime Minister designate; and Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Khaled al-Atiyya and Arif Tayfour as Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the new Iraqi Council of Representatives.

He said the UN looks forward to working with Iraq's newly-elected leaders towards the goals of fostering peace and stability in the country.