ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Newly elected Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Jan Kubis, the outgoing head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), on Sunday at the Salam Palace in Baghdad.

Kubis congratulated Salih on his election to the presidency last week and wished him success in meeting the expectations of the Iraqi people, according to a readout from Salih’s office.

“President Barham Salih expressed his gratitude and pride in the congratulations, repeating his appreciation for the telephone call he received from his Excellency the United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres to congratulate him for his election as the president of the republic,” the statement read.

Salih also praised the work of the UNAMI mission “with appreciation, stressing Iraq needs continuous help from the international community in projects of reconstruction, reconciliation, besides security and diplomatic fields.”

Kubis said the international community remains committed to supporting Iraq’s development and stabilization, and its pursuit of prosperity, the statement added.

UNAMI also release a short statement on social media following the meeting. Kubis and Alice Walpole, the special representative for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, “discussed the current political situation in the country including prospects of future government formation,” the UNAMI statement said.

“Mr. Kubis and Ms. Walpole congratulated the President on his election and on assuming the office of president, wishing him all the success, and promised continued UN support for Iraq and that of the international community in the country’s drive towards sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.

“The President conveyed his and the Iraqi people’s appreciation of the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and the UN Family in Iraq and called for continued UN support in the future.”

Salih was elected president by the Iraqi parliament on October 2. He was nominated by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), beating the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) nominee Fuad Hussein by a large margin.

The issue has caused renewed friction between the parties.

The international community and several foreign observers see Salih and his Prime Minister-designate Adil Abdul-Mahdi as moderate, technocratic reformers capable of moving Iraq forward.

Others believe they will remain beholden to Iraq’s sectarianism and will struggle to make substantial reform.

Rudaw