World cannot afford another gulf war: UN Gen Secretary cautions amid US airstrikes in Iraq
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United Nations, January 4: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday cautioned that the world cannot afford another war in the Gulf, following the killing of Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike.
Voicing deep concern over escalation of tensions in the Gulf, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said, “the Secretary-General has consistently advocated for de-escalation in the Gulf and deeply concerned with the recent escalation.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayattollah Ali Khamenei, issued a statement calling for three days of public mourning following the death of General Soleimani and said there would be retaliation for the US strikes.
Secretary-General @antonioguterres has consistently advocated for de-escalation in the Gulf. He is deeply concerned with the recent escalation.
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) January 3, 2020
This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint. The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf.
“This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint. The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf.”, said the statement from the UN Secretary-General. Haq informed that Guterres had spoken to the US Ambassador to the UN about the situation within the past half hour, but did not give details of the call. He further said the UN would continue its extensive work on the ground in Iraq, and the UN Mission there, UNAMI, would continue to advocate strongly for stability across the country.
The UN Special Representative, Jeanine Hennis-Plesschaert, responded to the UN chief's message by saying that unless restraint is shown by leaders across the region, the result could be another devastating cycle of violence. "For too long, Iraq has been a theatre for different power competitions. Iraqis deserve stability and peace. Cool heads must prevail." She said on twitter.
We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid another devastating cycle of violence and regional instability. For too long, Iraq has been a theatre for different power competitions. Iraqis deserve stability and peace. Cool heads must prevail. https://t.co/6KDHcxAaOx
— Jeanine Hennis (@JeanineHennis) January 3, 2020
The independent UN expert on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, questioned the legality under international law of the US strike, and urged the UN to use the legal tools and the platform at its disposal, to intervene more robustly. "There is no more pressing time for the UN and its leadership to step up than now", she said.