Baghdad: The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme for Arab States, Abdullah Al-Dardari, affirmed on Saturday that Iraq is now capable of managing its affairs without a UN political mission, while noting that the water and environment files are of interest to Al-Zaidi within a vision for Iraq until 2050.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Al-Dardari stated, "The United Nations organizations in Iraq are active and working as a unified group, especially after the departure of the UNAMI mission from Iraq, therefore, we must fill this void." He emphasized that Iraq no longer requires a UN political mission and is capable of managing its own affairs.

He highlighted the importance of a strategy for combating climate change and environmental pollution originating from the Iraqi government. "The United Nations does not replace Iraq, but rather represents a small part of the effort exerted, and the strength of any United Nations project lies in the extent to which it is consistent with a clear national vision in this sector," Al-Dardari noted, stressing the continuation of the United Nations Development Programme in supporting climate change and environmental pollution control programs in Iraq.

Al-Dardari mentioned that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is advocating for a vision for Iraq until 2050, with a significant focus on water and environmental issues. He remarked that it is not possible to discuss an economic vision without considering the effects of climate change and environmental challenges.

He further affirmed the United Nations' support in bridging any gaps in institutional and financial capacities needed to implement environmental projects, underscoring their commitment to addressing these issues.