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Overall situation in Iraq improving: UN envoy

20 July 2011 00:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. There is ground for " cautious optimism" in Iraq, Ad Melkert, who is UN Secretary- General’s special representative for Iraq, said here on Tuesday, APA reports referring Xinhua.

"In most of what I have witnessed in Iraq there is ground for cautious optimism, provided that determined leadership within the country and a stronger spirit of cooperation in the region with Iraq prevail," Melkert said at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Iraq.

Since March the Iraqi government incorporated a power-sharing constitution and guaranteed participation of women and minorities. Regular elections have taken place in line with international standards and in the meanwhile parliament is taking an " increasingly important role" in decision-making, Melkert reported.

Negotiations between parties have become the predominant feature of political life and "in the slipstream of events in the region" demonstrations have been recognized as a legitimate way to express opinions or grievances, according to Melkert.

Iraq’s economy currently grows at a rate of over 10 percent, with oil revenues at a higher level than projected and updates on proven reserves reconfirming Iraq’s prominence in global oil production for a long time to come. Total foreign direct investment in 2010 increased by almost 50 percent against the previous year up to a level of just over 42 billion U.S. dollars. Areas that have benefited include construction, transportation, electricity, industry, oil and gas, water and sanitation, health and agriculture, Melkert explained.

But Iraq’s poverty index remains high at around 23 percent. " Such inequality poses an instability risk for the future," Melkert said, noting that "these political and economic facts matter in a country that has suffered much during three decades of wars and oppression."

"Maintaining security stability is important in the short run provided that genuine efforts are undertaken to address the underlying issues which have been the source of political controversy," Melkert said.

He also noted that Iraq’s internal affairs continue "to require additional efforts to strengthen stability" and that "the regional context requires attention as well."

"Genuine progress has been made to replace a horrific past of ethnic confrontation by a future where coexistence and common interest define the interaction between Arabs and Kurds," Melkert said, adding that "real progress" has been achieved in replacing a ruthless dictatorship by institutions and representatives mandated by constitutional principles and practice.

From March till July, demonstrations continued in Iraq with protesters calling primarily for job creation, which is "an improvement in the delivery of essential services and an end to corruption," according to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon’s recent report to the Security Council on the progress made towards the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Also disagreements among the main political blocs regarding who should head the country’s top three security ministries continue, the report noted.

The U.S. Forces in Iraq have continued their planned withdrawal from the country with the intention of completing their departure by Dec. 31, 2011, the report noted.