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October 11, 2004
Release Number: 04-10-26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATO TRAINING FORCES NOW UNDER MULTI-NATIONAL COMMAND
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced the structure of the Iraqi security forces joint training, mentoring and equipping assistance effort, Oct. 8, at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium.
The formal NATO commitment to the MNSTC-I mission assisting the Iraqi government to stand up a military and police security force in the country will fill gaps in the overall effort.
"What we are doing and what the NATO mission has and will do, is help Iraqis - not do it for them," MNSTC-I Commander, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus said. "The contribution that the NATO training mission will make will be substantial."
The agreement designates Petraeus as the "dual-hatted" commander of MNSTC-I and NATO forces in Iraq and their training mission. NATO's role will be instructional, not placing alliance forces in offensive missions.
"We have already, for example, helped the Iraqis reestablish their military academy," Petraeus said. "We were not able, however, to help them reestablish their staff college or their war college or however they want to conceive them. The NATO mission will take the lead in this endeavor," he said.
Officials also said NATO will help Iraq establish a training education and doctrine command.
Royal Netherlands Air Force Maj. Gen. Karel Hilderink will serve as deputy commander of the NATO force. Ultimate force numbers for the mission have yet to be established.
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