British Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Prentice, has welcomed the decision of the Council of Representatives to endorse the Iraq-UK agreement on training and maritime support.
Christopher Prentice said:
"We welcome today’s decision of the Council of Representatives to endorse the Iraq-UK Agreement on training and maritime support, which now goes forward to the Presidency Council for final ratification. The Agreement is evidence of our mutual commitment to building the capability of the Iraqi Navy to undertake protection of Iraqi territorial waters and installations.
The Agreement flows from the joint decision by the Iraqi and British Prime Ministers in April 2009 to develop a broad based bilateral relationship focussed on close co-operation in a range of areas, including economic, commercial, development, defence, cultural and educational relations."
The text of the agreement will be sent to the Presidency Council for ratification and publication in the official Gazette within ten days.
The agreement allows for up to 100 UK personnel to provide training of the Iraqi navy and marines, including helping them in protecting Iraq's oil facilities in the northern Gulf.
