UN envoy in Iraq visits Saudi Arabia seeking regional support for peace efforts

The top United Nations envoy to Iraq visited Saudi Arabia today as part of his ongoing efforts to muster regional support to bring stability to the war-torn country.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative Ashraf Qazi, who over the weekend conferred with Syrian officials in Damascus, met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

They discussed “recent developments in Iraq and the role of neighbouring countries in supporting efforts to reduce violence and promote stability,” the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said in a statement.

Mr. Qazi “expressed the need for greater regional cooperation in supporting the Iraqi government’s reconciliation initiatives,” it added, noting that his meeting was part of a tour “aimed at learning the views and perceptions of governments in the region.”