The United Nations has announced the appointment of the permanent representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the organization, Mohammed bin Awad Al Hassan, as the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq. The Oman News Agency noted that Al Hassan's selection was due to his extensive experience in diplomatic and political fields, having held numerous positions, including chairman of the UN Committee on Special Political and Decolonization Affairs and facilitator of the UN Strategy for Counter-Terrorism.
His appointment for this international task aligns with the foreign policy of the Sultanate of Oman, characterized by moderation, balance, and a strong record in peace diplomacy, conflict resolution, and amicable dispute settlement between countries, according to the agency. This nomination received the approval of the Iraqi government, which is looking to end the political mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to transition to a new phase of political and economic development and positive interaction with the international community.
The agency concluded: "Mohammed bin Awad Al Hassan is expected to work closely with the Iraqi government to make progress on pending issues, including those that may pose a threat to peace and security in Iraq." It is worth mentioning that the UN Security Council had decided, at Baghdad's request, to withdraw the UN mission from Iraq, which has been in the country for over 20 years, by the end of 2025. The unanimously adopted resolution extends the mandate of the mission established in 2003 for a final period of 19 months until December 31, 2025. Iraq confirms that it will continue to cooperate with the international agencies of the UN in accordance with the government program and its developmental targets across all sectors and areas.
