BAGHDAD – NATO Training Mission-Iraq Deputy Commander Italian Army Maj. Gen Claudio Angelelli met with Iraq's Chief of Defense Iraqi Army Gen. Babakir Zebari here to discuss Iraqi military training conducted outside Iraq April 25.

During the meeting the two discussed efforts to better coordinate training courses conducted outside Iraqi, of particular interest is a one-week long logistics course.

"I'm appreciative of your effort for the Iraqis, and the right coordination will be taken as planned” Babakir told Angelelli during their discussion.

In addition to the logistics course several other significant achievements have been accomplished in recent months including: Iraq's operational centres achieving self-sustainable capability at the ministerial level (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense and Prime Minister Office) last November and other completed courses as well as many currently in progress.

Additionally, NATO has provided the Iraqi military with more than 112.2 million euros worth of needed equipment through the equipment donation program.

They also discussed training to be conducted at the Iraqi International Academy, where, once established, Iraq will have the premiere advanced military studies complex in the Gulf region, and the development of a structured cooperation framework as a fundamental instrument for a long-term relationship between NATO and Iraq.

The two concluded discussions with talks on humanitarian rights.

On this topic both the generals were absolutely in agreement that this matter is important and has already been included in all courses conducted by the Iraqi military, and at all levels throughout the military command chain. They also stressed the importance of this training for the young generation of military members because they are the future of Iraq's young democracy.

Mission

The NTM-I mission has always been fundamentally concerned with structures and institutions – building and developing enduring, national self-sustaining capabilities in the Iraqi Security Forces.

Furthermore, NTM-I has always been a relatively small, tactical size organization, with limited resources but one that has had a strategic impact on Iraq.

Mission statement

Provide training and assistance to the Iraqi Security Forces in order to contribute to the development of Iraqi training structures and institutions, so that Iraq can continue to build effective and sustainable multi-ethnic security forces which address the security needs of the Iraqi people.

Participating nations

The NATO Training Mission-Iraq was established in 2004 at the request of the Iraqi interim government under the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1546 and currently, the NTM-I footprint is a small tactical force of around 170 NATO/PfP personnel, representing 14 member nations (as at April 2011) as part of 28 NATO countries.

Fourteen member nations: Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine (partner for peace), United Kingdom, United States of America.

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