THE U.S. FORCES IRAQ DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL BARBERO IN ORSAM

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The U.S. Forces Iraq Deputy Commanding General and the Commander of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq Lt. General Michael D. Barbero delivered a speech entitled as “the Role of the NATO and Turkey in Iraq: 2011 and Thereafter” in the round-table meeting organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM). Besides the ORSAM experts, an esteemed group of audience from several embassies, media and universities has participated to the meeting. Barbero notifying the necessity of providing the stability in Iraq by a professional and competent security force indicated that with the support of the NATO, Iraq can go on having great successes. Signifying that Iraq has been going through a critical period, Barbero said that the Iraqi Security Forces will undertake the interior and border security and the training mission of the NATO will have an important role in that.

Underlying that it is a critical period for the NATO as well, Barbero indicated that at the end of 2011 and thereafter the cooperation between Iraq and the NATO and the role of the training forces of the NATO in this cooperation will probably take shape.

Underlining that it is still in process to define the cooperation between Iraq and NATO, Barbero reminded that they have been trying to provide the security in the light of democratization principle within the close relations having started 6 years ago and progressively getting deeper in the framework of the NATO Training Implementation Mission (NTIM).

“The Iraqi Police, Army and Special Forces are today capable of providing the security and reacting against the crises. The next step is to establish the democracy. Of course the current situation of security does not satisfy anybody, neither our Iraqi partners nor us. But the violence in Iraq is at the lowest level of the last seven years.” said Barbero.

“Turkey supplied training in almost 300 centers”

Barbero notifying that Turkey, in its missions, always played a pioneering role said that:

“Since 2005, Turkey has been one of the states contributing to the NATO training mission. Today it is still making important contributions in constitution of policies for this mission by taking charge in the key points. Turkey has raised this leadership to a high level by enabling the close cooperation of its own and of the NATO with Iraq. This year, Turkey supported the opening of about 300 special training courses for the senior officials in the Iraqi Security Forces in the framework of the NATO trainings and the fight against terrorism. In these centers, the Iraqi officials have been receiving training in more technical domains such as fight against terrorism, the border security and the air traffic control. Turkey offered to supply training to the Iraqi officials in new places in 2011. I hope that this helps to advancing the NATO-Iraq relations. The NATO-Iraq relation, I think, has a brilliant future.”

Stating that Iraq ought to adopt a new program about the relations with the NATO at the beginning of 2011, Barbero noted that 2011 will be a very significant year for the NATO as well. Mentioning that the NATO members should increase their contribution to the mission in Iraq, Barbero reminded that Turkey is one of the first states contributing to the NATO Trust Fund.

Barbero added he hopes that as soon as the NATO Summit is held, the other NATO members will contribute to this fund, too.

“I’m sure about the Establishment of the Government in Iraq”

“Of course it is necessary to establish a government in Iraq, I’m sure that Iraq will manage it.” said Barbero and added that provided that the new government is established in Iraq, he is optimistic about the long-term future of Iraq and about the future of its relations with the NATO.

Pointing out that a politically stable Iraq is important for the regional stability, prosperity and security, Barbero stated that today Iraq is trying to have good relations with its neighbors. “However maybe no other state except Turkey can create a positive change in Iraq.” he added.

Stating that Turkey and Iraq are in cooperation in the domains of security, trade and investment, Barbero said that that kind of partnerships which are important stimulating powers for the change and development can spread to all over Iraq by means of a hard work.

“As a consequence, I believe that a professional and competent security force should continue to proving the stability of Iraq. The NATO helps Iraq at shaping its future by means of the training implementation mission. With the support of the NATO, Iraq can continue to having great successes.” said Barbero.

The Situation of the Forces in the North of Iraq

Responding to the questions of the participants in the meeting, Barbero, in reply to a question related to the training of the security forces in the North of Iraq and also the relations and the coordination between these forces and the Iraqi Central Administration, said that there has been improvement in the relations between the security forces of the North Iraq and the central government in Baghdad.

“In the unified security operations at technical level there is an unified security mechanism between the Northern Iraq Administration and the Iraqi Government.” said Barbero and also added that in the North of Iraq, one of these unified security areas, there are the command and control centers consisting of the Iraqi army and the US forces and that there are the control points consisting again of these forces.

Stating that thus the tension in the area has decreased and the security degree has increased, Barbero mentioned that the Northern Iraq Forces receive training in the centers where the Iraqi army and police are trained.

Barbero noted that there are the operation centers at the ministerial level and that daily report exchanging and team exchanging has been done between the Northern Iraq and these centers in Iraq and “The cooperation in the area is positive and has been increasing, it is the same at the ministerial level, too. I foresee that these forces will merge under the umbrella of the Iraqi Security Forces.” he said.

After it was reminded Barbero of the existence of some out-of-control regions used by the terrorist group PKK in Iraq, “When are the Iraqi Security Forces going to provide the control of all the country?” was asked to him.

Stating that they have been continuing to develop the Iraqi Security Forces, Barbero said that the Iraqi forces should have good equipments in order to supply the sovereignty of the state, that only some equipments have not been given yet to the Iraqi forces in the framework of the active program carried out in Iraq and also that the Iraqi forces have been trained in order to use these equipments.

Signifying that they have been trying to form professional forces having special qualities, Barbero told that even if the Iraqi Security Forces are competent in several aspects at the end of 2011, there will be still some deficiencies.

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