President Salih to UN: Elections integrity is the highest priority

INA - BAGHDAD 

The President of the Republic of Iraq, Barham Salih met the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday as he highlighted that the integrity of the elections is a priority.

Salih congratulated Antonio Guterres on being re-elected for a second term as the UN Secretary-General.

He praised the great support provided by the UN for Iraq at every level, while hailing the UN's efforts in sending and facilitating the Electoral Observation Mission in order to ensure that the country's next federal elections scheduled to be held on 10th October to be of free will and fair.

“Furthermore, it is important that the country's upcoming elections would be for Iraq,” he said, noting that “it was vital to create the right conditions for the October election, in order to ensure it was free and fair and that there was no fraud or manipulation,”

Salih explained that, “Iraq's efforts aim to build a secure, stable and safe Iraq and it is needed to be supported, and it is important to work towards calming tensions in the region and to bring back the pivotal role of Iraq,”

“Iraq looks forward to the international expertise and support in order to support its national plans to work toward the recovery for Mesopotamia in terms of environment and establish the concepts of Green Economy,”
Salih added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in turn, hailed the progress made by Iraq and its tireless efforts to calm the regional situation.

He emphasized that the UN is still committed to supporting Iraq through its mission that works in Iraq and through the UN as well in order to promote security, stability and prosperity in Iraq.