Iraq needs attention under continuation of challenges, UN official says

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com. The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Iraq , Ad Melkert, has said on Saturday that Iraq still needed continuous attention under the current challenges, despite fact that it had witnessed a clear progress during the past few months.   “Whilst the country had witnessed a clear progress over the past few months, but there are still a number of challenges, despite fact that Iraq had achieved broad progress in its democratic transformation over the past few years,” Melkert told a UN Security meeting.   Melkert said that “despite fact that Iraq had achieved great steps in its democratic transformation over the past few years, that covered the promulgation of a constitution, carrying out nationwide elections, forming a government of national-partnership, as well as an open atmosphere for the mass media and the civil society, the Iraqi citizens are demanding their leaders to pay them the ‘profits’ they had promised them.”   “ Iraq had witnessed broad protests since last February, demanding additional freedoms, basic services and employment opportunities,” which Melkert described as “legitimate demands by the Iraqi people,” adding that “in the event of non-achievement of those demands, the political and democratic achievements would look empty, in the viewpoints of ordinary Iraqis.”   The UN Official also reiterated necessity to “satisfy the demands of young Iraqis, who he said that four-fifth of the Iraqis are less that 35 years of age and half of them are less than 15 years of age.   “The youth represent 50% of unemployed people in Iraq , i.e. about one million, in addition to the fact that 40% are young boys and girls, studying in secondary schools, a fact that the youth would have limited chances in the future,” Melkert said.   He concluded his statement, saying that “Iraq’s stability is facing great pressures,” pointing out to “the continuation of attacks against different minorities and the terrorist attacks,” whilst he said that the government, the security forces and other sectors of the society were continuing their efforts to achieve stability, whilst the United States was preparing to leave the country.   SKH (FT)   423