NATO agrees to boost Iraqi military capacity

BRUSSELS, July 31 (KUNA) -- NATO agreed on Friday on a defence capacity building package for Iraq to help strengthen the country's security and defence sector, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.
"This decision, taken today by the North Atlantic Council (NAC), underscores NATO's commitment to deepening our partnership with Iraq," he underlined. NAC is the principal political decision-making body of NATO, consisting of NATO ambassadors.
The programme has been developed upon Iraq's request and in close consultation with the Iraqi authorities, he noted.
The package includes measures of support in seven priority areas: advice on security sector reform; countering improvised explosive devices, explosive ordnance disposal and de-mining; civil military planning; cyber defence; military medicine and medical assistance; military training; and civil emergency planning. NATO and Iraqi experts will now work on the details of the training programmes which will be held in Turkey and Jordan.
NATO's support for Iraq has been designed to complement efforts carried out by the Global Coalition against ISIL, the European Union, the United Nations and bilateral efforts by individual Allies, added Stoltenberg (end) nk.ajs