Discurso do Representante Permanente Alterno, Embaixador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a Situação no Iraque - 2 de fevereiro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho at the UN Security Council Briefing on Iraq
February 2nd, 2023

Thank you, Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert, for your briefing.

I welcome the Iraqi delegation to today’s meeting. Let me also congratulate Iraq for successfully hosting and winning the Gulf Cup this past month of January. Well done to the Iraqi national football team – the Lions of Mesopotamia – for their remarkable triumph.

Mr./Madam President,

Last October, Brazil was pleased with the formation of the new Iraqi government. We note that the government of Iraq has set out a comprehensive list of priorities, including important reforms aimed at meeting the aspirations of the Iraqi people. We encourage all political actors to support the governmental plan in all those areas that the Iraqi government, through its own domestic political processes, has determined to be a priority, in the exercise of its right to determine its own destiny without foreign interference.

The inclusion of Iraqi women in high-ranking positions in the new government also deserves praise, particularly in light of women candidates’ performance during the 2021 elections, including beyond the quota system. The appointment of women to senior government positions signals an effort to translate the will of the Iraqi people for inclusive representation. We hope that the new government can contribute to an environment that enables the meaningful participation of women in politics and society in general, without discrimination based on gender. The adoption of the anti-domestic violence law would contribute to this end.

Brazil also commends governmental efforts, in accordance with the constitutional framework of Iraq, to resolve outstanding issues in the relations between the federal government and the government of the Kurdistan Region, including regarding the management of oil revenues. We underscore the importance of sustained dialogue among all relevant authorities, bearing in mind their shared responsibility towards the Iraqi people. It is our belief that mutual understanding and cooperation, with unity of duty and purpose, will strengthen the capacity of all governmental entities to pursue Iraq’s right to development in a manner that is consistent with the permanent sovereignty of the Iraqi people over its natural wealth and resources.

Brazil acknowledges Iraq's efforts to repatriate its citizens from refugee camps in northern Syria, and to reintegrate them into the Iraqi society. We commend the partnership established with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations in that endeavour, as well as the priority given to the care and protection of children, who are otherwise prone to recruitment by armed militias and terrorist groups upon their return.

Promoting the economic development and well-being of the population should also be considered a key instrument in countering terrorism. The threat posed by Da’esh in Iraq, but also in other countries, cannot be eradicated only through sanctions and individual accountability mechanisms. It is necessary to address the root causes of violent extremism, one of which can be the sentiment of injustice felt by marginalized populations, including of economic injustice arising from poverty, inequality, income disparities and lack of opportunities, locally and at the global level.

Countering the global threat of terrorism in Iraq also requires cooperation among States, particularly with neighbouring countries. Regrettably, we have been witnessing vis-à-vis the Iraqi territory a number of actions in disregard of the most fundamental tenets of the UN Charter. Brazil reiterates that there can be no legitimate right to self-defence against the territory of any State, unless in response to an actual armed attack attributable to that State. Furthermore, there is no right to preventive self-defence. Attempts to justify, on those grounds, violations of the prohibition on the use of force have no place in Article 51 of the UN Charter nor in customary international law.

In terms of progress in the implementation of UNAMI’s mandate, Brazil recalls that the mission’s existence, for many years already, has hinged upon the consent of the Iraqi government. As a Chapter VI mission, UNAMI has been established to assist Iraq in realising its full potential as a sovereign and independent country, following the progressive devolution to the Iraqis of control over all aspects of the country’s life, since the collapse of the country’s institutions brought about in 2003. In our view, that objective is better served by a focus on measures that can actively support political dialogue, national reconciliation, as well as the Iraqi people’s ownership over their political system and institutions.

We therefore encourage UNAMI to continue working constructively with the Iraqi government, within the limits of the mission’s mandate, in a manner that contributes to building capacities in the Iraqi society, and accelerate the transfer to the Iraqi government of all remaining public services currently provided by humanitarian organizations.

Finally, Brazil commends the continued efforts of the Tripartite Mechanism, under the auspices of the ICRC, in the search for missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals. We also note the resolve of the Iraqi government to continue searching for missing property, which we hope will bear fruit as soon as possible.