Al-Kadhimi: Iraq appreciates NATO role in leveling up our combat Security Forces

INA - Baghdad

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi affirmed that Iraq highly values ​​the role of NATO in raising the combat level of the armed forces.

"Al-Kadhimi met with the permanent representatives of NATO member states, at the alliance's headquarters in the Belgian capital, Brussels, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg,” according to a statement by the media office of the Prime Minister, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). 

Al-Kadhimi delivered a speech during the meeting in which he affirmed “Iraq's appreciation for joint cooperation with NATO countries as it counter terrorism, and explained the Iraqi government's position on efforts to establish peace and security in the region and Iraq's positive and active role in this field,”

He praised, according to the statement, "the role of the Iraqi armed forces in all its forms as they counter terrorism, and described Iraq as the first line of resistance in the war against the terrorist gangs of Daesh, and that it is the same terrorism that strikes any place in the world," 

PM al-Kadhimi notes that "Iraq highly values ​​the role of the alliance regarding raising the combat level of Iraqi armed forces,” as he called for continued assistance in the field of training, armament and intelligence support, as well as Iraq's determination to complete the construction of its security and military institutions.

For their part, Staltenberg expressed “their countries’ commitment to support Iraq and the government’s efforts to develop the capabilities of the security services. 

He also affirmed their appreciation and praise for “the progress achieved by Iraq in various political, security and economic fields,” and expressed “their readiness to support the Iraqi government's efforts to organize early, fair and equitable elections,”

Staltenberg also praised, according to the statement, "the great openness in Iraq's international relations, especially the success of the Iraqi-Jordanian-Egyptian summit, which was recently hosted by Baghdad and considered it a sign of the active regional role that Iraq provides in working to stabilize the region, develop its economy and joint regional cooperation in a way that enhances the security and progress of its peoples,”

In their words, the ambassadors of the NATO countries stressed that "the framework of the NATO mission in Iraq will only be in accordance with the request, needs and priorities of the Iraqi government," expressing their "confidence that building on the development achieved by the Iraqi security forces will be an important factor in achieving security and stability, locally and regionally, as this will reflect on the ability of the entire world to counter terrorist threats in the future,”