Karbala – Ali Al-Talaqani, Head of the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue, met at the forum's headquarters in Karbala with Claudio Cordoni, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, accompanied by a delegation. The meeting was attended by Forum members Dr. Riyadh Al-Masoudi and Dr. Hameed Muslim Al-Turufi.
Speaking to Al-Nabaa News Agency, Al-Talaqani stated that the discussions centered on local elections, the UN's role in Iraq, and the importance of strengthening democratic foundations by participating in local and parliamentary elections to safeguard voter rights and foster a positive climate for higher turnout.
Al-Talaqani warned against political violations targeting the electoral framework, stressing that political activity must strictly comply with constitutional legislation aligned with the interests of the Iraqi people.
He added that civil society organizations, research centers, academic elites, and media outlets must assume an active role in society. He argued that as core pillars of Iraqi society, these institutions must advise and influence political decision-makers.
For his part, UN Deputy Special Representative Claudio Cordoni told Al-Nabaa News Agency: "Our role in Iraq focuses on advisory services and assessment. However, Iraq's challenges mirror those of many countries requiring long-term reform and effort to counter personal influence within state institutions".
Cordoni added: "We have conducted numerous meetings where everyone expresses opposition to corruption. Yet, concrete and effective steps are necessary, as addressing both petty and grand corruption requires tackling administrative practices and prevailing cultural norms".
He noted that UN bodies assist in areas such as drug control and crime prevention, providing technical recommendations requested by the Iraqi government. However, he emphasized that the political track, particularly regarding electoral law, remains the most complex, adding that while international standards exist, working through the details requires genuine solutions.
Forum member Dr. Riyadh Al-Masoudi noted that international reports, particularly from the UN, reflect a genuine desire to hold elections, though securing broad voter participation remains a difficulty. He pointed out that political forces are working to streamline electoral legislation, placing a responsibility on the UN to actively bring parties together by offering advice on election laws, regulatory mechanisms, and legal enforcement.
Al-Masoudi added that elections must ensure both horizontal and vertical representation, acknowledging deep divisions over this issue. He maintained that Iraq has no alternative to an organized democratic system to project stability. He also observed that the political system suffers from structural flaws across various institutions, inherited from past conflicts.
Meanwhile, Forum member Dr. Hameed Muslim Al-Turufi stressed the urgency of holding elections to break the constitutional stalemate. He noted that appointments made following the dissolution of provincial councils remain temporary, arguing that local elections, if properly conducted, will carry significant positive momentum.
Al-Turufi pointed out that certain political factions have been sidelined or have voluntarily withdrawn from politics due to ongoing disputes. Consequently, he called on the UN to advise on democratic inclusion, anti-marginalization, and discouraging political forces from engaging in violations. He noted that Iraq's political class maintains clear international openness and faces little external pressure despite current fragmentation, leading politicians to rely on this trajectory for the near future.
Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue in Karbala regularly hosts UN officials, organizational representatives, government figures, academics, and foreign ambassadors.
