Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoBAGHDAD / GUTERRES PRESS STATEMENT
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: BAGHDAD / GUTERRES PRESS STATEMENT
TRT: 05:19
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 DECEMBER 2025, BAGHDAD, IRAQ
1. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Premier Minister of Iraq
2. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“It is good to be in Baghdad once again. This land is home to so much history and culture, and so many contributions to humanity stretching back millennia. And in our time, we have witnessed the courage, fortitude and determination of the Iraqi people. Iraqis have worked to overcome decades of violence, oppression, war, terrorism, sectarianism and foreign interference. Today’s Iraq is unrecognizable from those times. A country of increased peace and security. And a country determined to keep climbing the development ladder. I strongly congratulate the Iraqi people for these achievements.”
3. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Premier Minister of Iraq
4. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Against all odds, the Iraqi people never wavered in your commitment to build a peaceful, inclusive society based on the rule of law and democratic institutions. Prime Minister al-Sudani, on behalf of the United Nations, I extend my sincere congratulations to Iraq on its recent election. I trust Iraqi institutions to help ensure a timely and peaceful government-formation process that reflects the will of the people and their aspirations for stability and progress. I count on the new government to continue its efforts to build confidence and stability among all communities and maintain its vigilance against terrorism in which you, Prime minister, have done a very important contribution. And I once again express my appreciation for the government’s commitment to repatriate its citizens from northeast Syria — in particular, from the Al-Hol camp. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet with some who had been repatriated — among the 17,000 repatriated so far. We must keep working for solutions that preserve dignity across the repatriation and reintegration process.”
5. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Premier Minister of Iraq
6. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“We also discussed the situation in Gaza, where the ceasefire must be respected, and the peace agreement must hold and pave the way for long-term political solutions. The Palestinian people have suffered too much. Now they need — and indeed the world needs — a credible political path towards ending the occupation, realizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and leading to a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.”
8. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Premier Minister of Iraq
9. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Finally, we discussed an important milestone: The closing of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq — UNAMI. Over the last 22 years, this special mission has acted with humility and determination to help Iraqis rebuild following decades of oppression, war and instability, fully respecting the principle of national ownership. From advancing inclusive, political dialogue and reconciliation among the many groups who call Iraq home. To supporting judicial and legal reforms, and promoting human, civil and political rights for minorities, women and girls. To helping the government ensure the safe and dignified return of millions of internally displaced persons. To coordinating the humanitarian and development work of UN agencies, funds and programmes.
10. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Premier Minister of Iraq
11. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The United Nations is proud to have played a part in this period of Iraq’s history. UNAMI’s contributions prove the valuable role of the United Nations in helping countries navigate political transitions and build peace and stability. Even as UNAMI closes, many UN agencies, funds and specialized programmes will remain here, continuing their vital development work in support of Iraq and Iraqis. We look forward to building on the work of the last 22 years, and standing with Iraqis to build the prosperous, stable and peaceful country all Iraqis deserve.”
12. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Premier Minister of Iraq, shaking hands
“Against all odds, the Iraqi people never wavered in your commitment to build a peaceful, inclusive society based on the rule of law and effective institutions,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in Baghdad on Saturday, as he met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
Speaking during a press statement in the Iraqi capital, Guterres congratulated Iraq on its recent election and said he trusted Iraqi institutions to ensure “a timely and peaceful government-formation process that reflects the will of the Iraqi people and their aspirations for stability and progress.”
He said he counted on the new government to continue its efforts to build confidence and stability among all communities and to maintain vigilance against terrorism. Guterres also stressed the importance of sustained and constructive dialogue between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
The Secretary-General welcomed Iraq’s efforts to repatriate its citizens from northeast Syria, particularly from the Al-Hol camp, noting that some 17,000 people had been repatriated so far. He said further work was needed to ensure solutions that preserve people’s dignity throughout the repatriation and reintegration process.
Guterres said he and the Iraqi prime minister also discussed the situation in Gaza, stressing that the ceasefire must be respected and that any peace agreement must hold. He said the Palestinian people, after prolonged suffering, needed a credible political path toward ending the occupation, realizing their right to self-determination and achieving a two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.
Turning to the United Nations’ role in Iraq, Guterres described the closing of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, UNAMI, as an important milestone after more than two decades of work. He said the mission had supported inclusive political dialogue and reconciliation, judicial and legal reforms, human rights for minorities, women and girls, the return of internally displaced persons, humanitarian coordination and technical assistance for elections, including the most recent parliamentary vote.
He said the United Nations was proud to have played a role in Iraq’s recent history and stressed that, even as UNAMI closes, many UN agencies, funds and specialized programmes would remain in the country. Guterres said the UN looked forward to continuing to stand with Iraqis in building “the prosperous, stable and peaceful country they deserve.”
