NATO initially decides to help train Iraqi security forces

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Saturday initially agreed to provide assistance for Iraq in training its security forces just two days before the NATO summit due on June 28 in Istanbul of Turkey.

A written statement under the name of NATO secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said ambassadors from all NATO members Saturday reached an "initial agreement" to respond "positively" to the request of the Iraqi interim government for assistance, "in accordance with UN Security Resolution 1546."

The NATO chief said NATO heads of state and government "are expected to approve this agreement" at their summit meeting in Istanbul.

The NATO nations fully support the "independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity" of Iraq and the strengthening of "freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law and security for all the Iraqi people," said the statement.

On June 19, Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi sent a letter to NATO, asking the military bloc to help train its security forces and provide other technical assistance, but no troops.

Last Wednesday, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the letter from Allawi was forwarded to allied governments.

Sixteen of the 26 NATO members already have troops in Iraq while NATO itself provides logistical help for a Polish-led division there.

Source: Xinhua