United Nations – Iraq – Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert takes office as the new special representative for Iraq and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (17 December 2018)

The goal of UNAMI, which was created in 2003 by UNSCR 1500, is to support the national reconciliation and reconstruction process in Iraq; it is active in most Iraqi provinces where it:

• provides political support, notably with respect to electoral assistance, as during the parliamentary elections in May 2018;
• coordinates humanitarian assistance;
• helps develop health and social services.

France stood alongside Iraq in the fight against Daesh and will continue to do so within the framework of the inclusive process to promote stabilization, reconciliation and reconstruction that is getting underway. UNAMI’s work in this regard is essential. We have every confidence in Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert’s ability to assume this new role for which her political career and personal qualities have prepared her.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Jan Kubis, Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert’s predecessor, for the remarkable work that he carried out during a critical period of Iraq’s history, notably marked by the violence and atrocities committed by Daesh.