Romanski praises Iraq's step to open an air cargo control unit at Baghdad Airport

Baghdad-INA  

The US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanski, praised today, Sunday, the step of opening an air cargo control unit at Baghdad Airport, which represents an essential part of Iraq’s ability to combat illicit trafficking.
 
Romanski said in her speech during the opening ceremony of the air cargo control unit at Baghdad International Airport, which was attended by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent, that “the newly established air cargo control unit funded by the Regional Export Control Program of the US State Department represents an essential part of Iraq’s ability in combating illicit trafficking,” expressing “the United States of America’s respect for its Iraqi partners for their continued commitment to establishing border security for a more stable, secure, and sovereign Iraq, and we thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for organizing this gathering and their hard work and establishing this unit.”
She added, “The safety and security of our international partners is the security of the whole world,” noting that “combat and prevent the use of drugs, organized criminal activities, and illicit trafficking, such as in chemicals, nuclear weapons, and explosives, among other matters, is at the forefront of US cooperation with partner governments and the non-governmental profitability sector and industry around the world.
  "Smugglers use legitimate goods to hide illegal shipments, and the large volume of global trade and shipment movements makes it difficult for customs and law enforcement officials to discover illicit cargo, which is often hidden," indicating that "facing this and other challenges, and the Air Cargo Control Unit “An essential part of Iraq’s ability to combat illicit trafficking and cross-border threats through the establishment of this unit.” Romanski said.
She pointed out that "By establishing this unit, Iraq is sending a strong message to the international community that it continues to work on customs procedures and monitoring goods transparently," stressing that "the strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States is built on the mutual desire for security and prosperity, and this program is a step towards making, Baghdad International Airport is in line with the standards of the global aviation community, and as Iraq continues to strengthen its airports against the efforts of malicious actors to target commercial and civil aviation facilities, it is close to achieving its goal of more flights between Baghdad and major cities around the world.”
Romanski added: "I am confident that if the Iraqi government is determined to take the necessary steps, Iraq's international ties will continue to expand and achieve more economic growth, and the United States of America remains committed to strengthening relations with Iraq and supporting it on this path."