Baghdad: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein emphasized the need to regulate the legal status of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) in Iraq. This statement was made during his meeting with Alioune Catherine Bomberker, Director-General of the ICMP, on the sidelines of the Regional Expert Meeting on Missing Persons for the Middle East and North Africa, held in Baghdad.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the discussions between Hussein and Bomberker focused on enhancing cooperation between Iraq and the ICMP, particularly regarding the issue of missing persons, which remains a key humanitarian concern in Iraq. The meeting highlighted the necessity of regulating the legal framework within which the ICMP operates in the country, including the potential signing of a memorandum of understanding to allow the ICMP to fulfill its duties more effectively.

Bomberker expressed her appreciation for the ongoing cooperation with the Iraqi government and commended the progress made by Iraq in addressing the issue of missing persons. She reaffirmed the ICMP’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Iraq, suggesting that Iraq join the ICMP’s founding treaty, which operates as an international organization under a multilateral treaty.

The dialogue also covered the challenges faced by the ICMP in Iraq and the importance of taking steps to streamline its operations and facilitate its mission. Fuad Hussein assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to engage with relevant Iraqi authorities to develop appropriate legal solutions that enable the ICMP to carry out its crucial work, aligning with shared humanitarian objectives.