Secretary-General Concerned at ‘Appalling’ Escalation of Deadly Violence

 

in Iraq, Stressing Need for Dialogue between Political Blocs

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General has been following with concern the unfolding political and security situation in Iraq, including the escalating political tensions and the appalling upsurge of violence that has killed a high number of civilians over the last two months.  He expresses his deepest sympathy to the victims and their families and calls upon the Iraqi Government to do its utmost to bring to justice the perpetrators of these atrocious acts.  He underscores the pressing need for dialogue between political blocs in order to overcome the current crisis.

The Secretary-General welcomes all recent dialogue initiatives, including the high-level meeting convened by Sayyed Ammar Al-Hakim and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s visit to the Kurdistan Region.  He urges all parties to redouble their efforts to ensure that the momentum of national reconciliation is not lost to those groups that strive to reignite sectarian violence in Iraq.

The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations, including the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), to support and assist the Government and people of Iraq in building a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country.

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For information media • not an official record