30 July 2004
NATO Announces Proposal to Train Iraqi Security Forces
Mission to operate under NATO control, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced that the alliance has reached an agreement to coordinate training for Iraqi security forces.
The secretary-general outlined the tasks of a "training implementation mission" in a July 30 press release.
The mission will be carried out under the authority of NATO's North Atlantic Council and in coordination with the Iraqi interim government and the multinational force.
In particular, NATO will be working closely with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. The organization will train personnel from the Iraqi military headquarters inside Iraq and will train additional security forces outside Iraq.
According to the press release, this assistance reflects NATO's desire to contribute "to the goal shared by the entire international community: to help Iraq provide for its own peace and security."
Following is a copy of the press release:
(begin text)
Statement by the Secretary General of NATO on NATO assistance to Iraq
Today, the North Atlantic Council reached agreement on the establishment of a NATO Training Implementation Mission in Iraq. This Mission's tasks will include:
-- establishing appropriate liaison arrangements with the Iraqi Interim Government and the Multinational Force;
-- working closely with the Iraqi authorities to help them develop their structures, in particular in the Ministry of Defense and Military HQ. This will include the immediate start of training for selected Iraqi headquarters personnel in Iraq;
-- helping to identify Iraqi personnel for training outside of Iraq; and
-- working closely with the Iraqi Interim Government and the Multinational Force to develop, on an urgent basis, more detailed proposals for NATO training, advice and cooperation, and report to the Council in this regard by 15 September 2004.
NATO will also start training, beginning in August, selected Iraqi personnel outside of Iraq, and develop a role in coordinating national offers of equipment and training.
The Training Implementation Mission will be a distinct mission, under the political control of the NAC. It will be closely coordinated with the Multinational Force.
I will propose these arrangements to the Iraqi Government as a matter of urgency.
These decisions reflect NATO's commitment to implement as quickly as possible the decisions taken in Istanbul. Through this assistance, the Alliance is contributing substantially to the goal shared by the entire international community: to help Iraq provide for its own peace and security.
Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 41
Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57
B-1110 Brussels/Bruxelles
http://www.nato.int
press@hq.nato.int
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=July&x=20040730175229ndyblehs0.8007318&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
