UN Should Support Independent States Like Iraq: Abdollahian

Tehran, May 8, IRNA – UN should reject outside pressures and support independent states like Iraq, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said here on Monday. Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with visiting UN Sec-General's Representative in Iraq, Martin Cobler. The official thanked the UN office in Tehran and Baghdad for their commitment to help the resolution of regional problems. “Iran is keen to support the stability and security of Iraq.” Cobler for his part praised Iran’s positive role in Iraq and called for expansion of cooperation between Tehran and UN in all fields including the Iraq problems. United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq operates through a Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Iraq. The first such representative was Sérgio Vieira de Mello who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing on 19 August 2003. One of its tasks is to implement the International Compact with Iraq. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ashraf Qazi was appointed on 14 July 2004 and retired on 18 September 2007. Ad Melkert was Special Representative of the Secretary-General from 2009-2011. The current Special Representative of the Secretary-General is former German Ambassador to Iraq Martin Kobler. Military Representatives and Guards Fiji - 320 Fijian troops are responsible for protecting UN buildings and staff in the Green Zone. Iran has an embassy in Baghdad and three consulate generals in Sulaimaniya, Arbil and Najaf./end