Iran Speaker Asks UN to Help Iraq with Social, Economic Problems
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s parliament speaker highlighted the major role the United Nations can play in helping Iraq overcome unemployment and poverty, which he described as contributory factors in spread on insecurity in the Arab country.
“The battle against poverty and unemployment as well as participation of all political groups in Iraq’s new administration can contribute to the reestablishment of security in Iraq, and the United Nations has a heavy, tough duty in this regard,” Ali Larijani said on Monday.
He made the comments in a meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, held in Tehran.
“Insecurity in Iraq will cause insecurity in the region, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will spare no effort to establish security and calm in the Arab country,” Larijani noted.
The UN official, for his part, said creating balance between ethnic groups and political factions and revival of Iraq’s ties with its neighbors” would facilitate the process of sustainable development and peace establishment in the Arab nation.
Mladenov also praised Iran for the assistance it has been providing for the Iraqi nation and government in various fields.
Iraq has been the scene of clashes between military forces and the ISIL terrorists since the foreign-backed militants attacked the Arab country from Syria in summer.
However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the popular forces, who rushed to take arms after top Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for fight against the militants, have blunted the edge of the ISIL offensive.
Amid tensions in Iraq, Iran is known as the first country to help the Arab country and has always voiced support for Iraq’s solidarity and prosperity.