Iraqi Mission Opens Book of Condolences

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the UN office in Geneva recently created a Book of Condolences to honor the many colleagues killed in the recent terrorist bombings focused on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance

Many of the Permanent Representations and International Organizations accredited to the United Nations office in Geneva have presented their deepest condolences, great regret and sorrow. The international community has criticized these criminal acts, while also announcing their continuing support and solidarity with the Iraqi Government, the Iraqi People, and especially the families of the recent victims

All the staff at the Permanent Mission of Iraq would like to thank those who have expressed concern

Sixth anniversary of the bombing of the UN mission in Baghdad

Staff from the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the UN (Geneva) marked the sixth anniversary of the terrorist and criminal attack which targeted the UN headquarters in Baghdad on 19/8/2003. The bombing claimed the lives of many of the UN and local staff, headed by Mr. Sérgio Vieira de Mello representative of Secretary General of the United Nations to Iraq

Accompanied by the Iraqi Mission staff, Ms. Ahlam Al-Gailani, Iraqi charge d'affaires ad interim, laid a wreath of flowers and held a one minute silence for the victims, at the Sérgio de Mello memorial outside the Palais Wilson

Iraqi delegation participating in WIPO seminar on traditional knowledge

Ms. Ahlam Al-Gailani, Iraqi charge d'affaires ad interim and the Iraqi delegation, headed by Dr. Alaa Abu al-Hassan Ismail, Director General of the National Center for Copyright Protection in the Ministry of Culture participated in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) seminar on traditional knowledge
The Iraqi delegation also met with Mr. Francis Gurry, Director General of the WIPO expressed their thanks on behalf of the Iraqi Government with regards to the grants awarded by the organization in as well as the recent financing of seminars and workshops on intellectual property to promote the development process in Iraq
The delegation requested that the WIPO continue training programs for government personnel involved in field of intellectual property as well as figures in the Iraqi Judiciary system. Mr. Gurry expressed his willingness to developing a comprehensive plan for the next two years to develop the national strategy for Iraq through the activation of the contribution of Intellectual Property in the development process, and also expressed readiness in continuing to organize training courses for Iraq

Opening of the high-level segment of the substantive session of the Economic and

Yesterday saw the opening of the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the annual meeting was held between the UN headquarters in New York and the Palais des Nations in Geneva

Speeches and presentations were made under the theme focusing on current global and national trends and their impact on social development, including health by high-level personalities such as Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Hans Roldlv President of the Swiss Federation, and Dr. Margaret Chan DG of the WHO, as well as heads and directors of many other International Organizations

An Innovation Fair, showcasing some groundbreaking practices in the area of global public health and providing an opportunity for policymakers to interact with innovators from the private sector, foundations and other civil society organizations, will run parallel to the high-level segment

It was also noted the urgent need to implement further necessary topics such as access to safe drinking water, providing education and health education for all, and strengthening the role of women, enabling them to access health services.

As a Member of ECOSOC Iraq was represented by the Iraqi charge d'affaires ad interim, in Geneva Ms. Ahlam Al-Gailani

Iraqi Mission celebrates the withdrawal of US troops

The Iraqi Mission in Geneva held a celebration for its staff in order to celebrate the withdrawal of US troops for the towns and cities of Iraq. During the small gathering of diplomatic and local staff, the Iraqi charge d'affaires ad interim, Ms. Ahlam Al-Gailani spoke about the joy many Iraqis feel about this momentous milestone in Iraq’s history, wished the Iraqi Security forces the best in their up and coming demanding challenges

The Mission staff is in high spirits for these new events, and pays thanks to Iraqi people for their sacrifices. However we all understand that there is still a lot of reconstruction and rehabilitation needed throughout Iraq, Socially, Politically, Economically and Security. These are issues the Iraqi Government is determined to tackle, and the Mission remains optimistic about Iraq’s future

Iraq participates in the Second Global Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Iraqi Mission took part in the second Global Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction opened in the Geneva International Conference Center (CICG) on 16/6/2009

The forum focused on ways and means of modern practices in the face of disaster risk and to take the necessary measures to reduce the number of deaths resulting from natural hazards by urging political leaders and decision makers to contribute to the implementation of such measures, as well as to invite Governments to make 2010 a year of investment in the area and work to meet the disaster risk under the slogan invest today for a safer tomorrow

International Labor Conference opening of the 98th Session

Iraq participates in the 98th session of the International Labor Conference, which is being held in Geneva from the 3rd until 19th June 2009. Iraq has sent a large delegation headed by Mr. Hamid Zaidi Ebeid Inspector General at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Iraqi delegation is expected to raise the issue of investing in Iraq, and will be focused on the investment plan and the Investment Law No. 13 for the year 2009. This is all in the aftermath of the success of security and stability that has been made in Iraq over the last several months

The implementation of Iraq’s financial obligations and restoration of Iraq’s right to vote is also in line with the nations’ foreign policy, to return Iraq to the effective multilateral forums and to participate actively in the work and meetings of the international community, such as in the International Labor Organization

The conference will discuss many important topics, the most prominent being the economic and financial crisis and its impact on the global labor market and employment, and hosts of experts who are to put forward their ideas and opinions out of this crisis

Iraq attends the Conference on Disarmament CD

Iraq’s interim charge d’affaires, Mrs. Ahlam Al-Gailani attended and produced a statement to the Conference on Disarmament on 28/5/2009. in the statement Mrs. Gailani praised the outstanding efforts of the CD President, and commented on the effectiveness of the Conference in its role in addressing issues related to disarmament and non-proliferation. Iraq stressed it’s support to the draft decision, and claims the draft is a reasonable and balanced compromise solution covering the concerns of Member States, expressing the hope that this will be a starting point in the adoption of the Program of Action for the CD in resume its work and activities

Iraq also believes that this draft will assist the CD out of the deadlock in which it has been suffering from for quite some time now, and to start engaging in serious negotiations and realistic goals, of which the contents reflect the concerns of its members. While stressing that the CD should constantly be full of activity and the trying to apply tasks entrusted to it, as it is the sole negotiating body to deal with the multilateral disarmament issues

Iraq sees the flexibility of the CD members in support of the draft decision leading to the achievement of the goals to which all members aspire too in the area of disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament. Iraq believes that this is in the interest of international peace and security, particularly in the areas of tension such as the Middle East

62nd Session of the World Health Assembly

Iraqi delegation headed by H.E. Iraqi Minister of Health Mr. Salih al-Hasnawi, which included a group of experts from the Iraqi Health Ministry and Iraqi charge d'affaires ad interim, Ms. Ahlam Al-Gailani attended the Sixty-second session of the World Health Assembly held in Geneva from 18-22/5/2009

Officials that represented 193 member countries began the annual review of activities undertaken by the World Health Organization and identified some of new priorities that should be focused on for the future

The agenda of some of the Member States included concerns of the financial crisis and its impact on health, as well as the threat of epidemic influenza viruses and access to vaccines. Also mentioned was establishing a global mechanism for the follow-up of viruses and the renewal of strategic stocks of vaccines, while strengthening the control of contact between humans and animals. The subject of the poor health situation in the Palestinian territories was also addressed

Plenary meeting update for the Conference on Disarmament in 2009

On the 19/5/2009, Iraqi charge d'affaires ad interim, Ms. Ahlam Al-Gailani attended the first formal meeting of the Conference on Disarmament’s second part session in 2009, led by H.E. Ambassador Idriss Jazairy of Algeria

The high level meeting was addressed by, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the UN, H.E. Mr. Mourad Medelci, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Calmy-Rey, the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as H.E. Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon stressed the need for a multilateral approach in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and called on members of the Conference to adopt the proposed new work program. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon said bold actions need to be taken to reach a consensus in order to make the world more secure. The UN Secretary General highlighted important steps forward in the international treaty to create an effective and verifiable with respect to the ending of fissile material, pointing to a change in the international climate as encouraging in this regard

H.E. Ms. Calmy-Rey stated that the time had come in order to achieve a breakthrough after several years of inactivity within the Conference of Disarmament, and invited members of the Conference to adopt the program of work before them in order to be able to enhance its credibility. H.E. Mr. Mourad Medelci, also agreed that the international community recognizes that genuine international security can only be the product of a climate of mutual trust between the partners working to achieve disarmament

For more information please use the following link:

www.unog.ch/__80256ee600585943.nsf/(httpPages)/1944cb0f8ba2d15cc125719400546395