Top UN envoy continues talks with Iraqi leaders on Kirkuk, disputed areas

The top United Nations envoy to Iraq is continuing consultations with authorities in the strife-torn nation over power-sharing in the disputed northern city of Kirkuk and development in parts of Nineveh and Diyala governorates.

Recently, Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, has held talks with officials in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office and other political leaders, as well as with the Kirkuk Provincial Council Chairman and others.

These meetings will pick up the pace after the end of the parliamentary recess and before the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) is expected to submit its analytical report on disputed areas in the country’s north to Iraqi authorities.

The Mission is mandated to help the Government and Council of Representatives on creating means to resolve disputed internal boundaries.

In a press release issued in Baghdad today, Mr. de Mistura clarified that despite statements made by some local and national politicians, UNAMI has no plans whatsoever to include in its upcoming analysis any suggestion for the territorial division of Kirkuk.

The envoy, who also heads UNAMI, also denied having expressed any opinion regarding the deployment of the 12th Iraqi Army Division.

“There will be attempts by various parties to present one-sided interpretations of what they think we are doing or would like us to be doing,” he said.

Although this is “understandable,” Mr. de Mistura added that he knows “that the leaders of Iraq will not make hasty judgments based on press leaks and will make their own assessment of the quality and usefulness of our reports.”

In an open meeting of the Security Council last month, he stressed that there must be a “firm recognition” among all parties that a durable peace can only be achieved when solutions acceptable to all are found regarding Kirkuk and problems such as the oil law and revenue-sharing.