Al-Hassan: The New Middle East Can Only Be Shaped By Its Own Peoples

Baghdad / NINA /- The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq, Mohammed Al-Hassan stressed on Tuesday that the contours of a “new Middle East” can only be shaped by its own people.

Speaking at the Sixth Forum on Peace and Security in the Middle East, hosted in Duhok with the participation of prominent leaders and officials, al-Hassan said that the peoples of the region “are exhausted by wars,” after more than four centuries marked by conflict, crises, and occupation. He called for “easing the burdens on the peoples of the region,” noting that the Middle East — and Iraq in particular — is the cradle of civilizations, and that “it is time for them to shine again.”

He added that moving toward a better future requires “wise leaderships working for the public good,” affirming that the Iraqi people are “creative,” and that “the next real battle will not be political, but one of intellectual and scientific excellence,” pointing out that Iraq has already begun laying the foundations for such initiatives.

Al-Hassan emphasized the importance of “advancing political and knowledge-based economic frameworks,” and reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to provide “all forms of support” to Iraq.

He also highlighted the continued displacement of many Yazidis living in camps inside the country, stressing the need for their return to their areas of origin, describing this as “the final stage in the fight against ISIS.”

He concluded by underscoring “the importance of adhering to the constitution, which establishes the federal system,” and called for “shielding citizens’ livelihoods from political disputes.”/ End