UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- UN special envoy for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Thursday called on Iraq's political class to take advantage of the present climate to end chronic cycles of instability.
Following a year of tensions and political discord, Hennis-Plasschaert expressed hope that the confirmation of the new government will provide a chance to structurally address the country's pressing issues.
"Effecting meaningful change will take time, as this can only happen through structural change that requires systemic socio-economic reform, stronger institutions and better governance at all levels," she said.
"It is of the greatest importance that political parties and other actors prioritize the country's interest above all else," said the envoy.
Since the invasion by the U.S.-led coalition in 2003, Iraq has been mired in political chaos, with the peace and democracy promised by Washington yet to be delivered.
According to Statista, a global statistical database, from 2003 to 2021, about 209,000 Iraqi civilians died in wars and violent conflicts. About 9.2 million Iraqis became refugees or were forced to leave their homeland.
