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For military deployment, Iraq thanked New Zealand
12 Jun 2015
Senior Iraqi government officials have thanked New Zealand for its military contribution to the fight against Islamic State insurgents, Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said.
Brownlee, who has just left Iraq, said in a statement from his office that he had met with Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al- Obeidi in Baghdad and discussed the joint Australian-New Zealand mission to train Iraqi forces.
He said, "Iraqi government and military commanders recognize our contribution to the Building Partner Capacity mission."
"As in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and other deployments, NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) personnel are making a difference through the quality military training they are providing Iraqi security forces."
Brownlee was accompanied on his visit, which was not announced previously for security reasons, by the head of the NZDF and New Zealand's newly appointed ambassador to Iraq. Up to 143 NZDF personnel are involved in the mission to train Iraqi security forces to fight Islamic State insurgents on a two-year deployment, with a review after nine months.
Brownlee continued, "Early indications are Iraqi trainees are responding and relating well to our trainers."
Last month, opposition lawmakers called for the withdrawal of New Zealand troops after Islamic State forces overran Ramadi to come within 100 km of the New Zealand-Australian base at Taji, just north of Baghdad.
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