ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The end of the United Nations mission in Iraq by the end of 2025 does not mean that its support and presence in Iraq will end, the head of the mission said Wednesday, stressing that the UN is entering its “most important” chapter in the country.

“The UN has been able to help Iraq achieve a number of expectations, but the end of the UNAMI mission does not mean the end of the UN in Iraq,” the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Mohamed al-Hassan, told Middle East Research. Institute (MERI) Forum in Erbil, adding “Iraq needs the UN.”

The UNAMI mission will end on December 31, 2025. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani made the request in May in a letter to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council, stressing that bilateral relations should be “based on bilateral. consultation and respect for the will and sovereignty of Iraq”.

Hassan, who is set to be the last head of UNAMI in Iraq, said the main objective of the mission was to “return security and stability”.

“Now, a more important chapter will begin, a chapter of implementing expectations,” Hassan said, stating that the Iraqi people are capable of solving the country’s “big” problems.

Although UNAMI does not directly implement development and humanitarian programs, it plays an advisory role in facilitating partnership and technical cooperation between the Iraqi government and the 20 UN agencies, funds and programs operating in the country.

“Those who created UNAMI can create other entities that are more helpful,” Hassan said, reiterating that “the most important part of Iraq with UNAMI is this year.”

UNAMI was established in August 2003 at the request of Iraq under Security Council Resolution 1500 to support Baghdad’s development efforts. His mandate was extended annually.

The Iraqi government cited improved security and stability for ending the UNAMI mission.