Though notable progress has been made during the past months, many challenges remain in Iraq, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Ad Melkert said here on Friday, Xinhua reported.
"While Iraq has made remarkable strides in its democratic transition in recent years, the people now demand the dividends that were promised by their leaders," Melkert told a Security Council meeting on Iraq.
Currently an estimated 78 percent of Iraq's population is under 35 and 43 percent of the population is under 15. Youth constitutes over 50 percent of the jobless. Less than 40 percent of children are enrolled in primary schools and only 21 percent are enrolled in the last two years of secondary school.
"Iraqi elected officials are taking these issues seriously and have shown a renewed determination to act decisively," Melkert said, and referred to Prime Minister Maliki's initiative to task cabinet ministers to ensure that within 100 days viable plans are introduced to achieve tangible progress in the key areas of job creation and service delivery.
Other initiatives that have been announced include cuts in defense expenditures and government salaries, as well as tackling corruption.But Melkert said he remained concerned that agreement on key security ministerial portfolios has yet to be reached, and therefore urged political leaders to set aside their differences and bring the government formation process to a close.
"This should help the Government of Iraq live up to its promise to those who voted in March last year," Melkert said.Melkert touched on the fact that though developments in Iraq are no longer at the forefront of international media coverage, Iraq's stability is still under pressure.Stability and long-term prosperity in Iraq also depends on progress made with respect to national reconciliation, and in particular the resolution of disputed internal boundaries and the status of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.
In his speech, Melkert expressed appreciation for the support that the General Assembly has provided in approving a substantial increase of the budget of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) that enables them to respond to the major operational challenges they are facing.