NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, announced on Monday that December 31 is the date to end the training mission in Iraq and the withdrawal of all troops of the Alliance in this country, according to AFP and AP.
“It was not possible to reach an agreement to extend this successful program, despite strong negotiations” held between NATO and Iraqi authorities, said Rasmussen who was quoted in a statement after Iraq’s refusal to grant immunity to members of the Alliance.
This announcement was expected after the failure of discussions engaged in recent months. NATO has informed Baghdad last week, said Iraqi national security adviser, Falah al-Fayad. “We are disappointed that NATO has recommended the withdrawal of its mission in Iraq”, he said, adding that his country wanted the mission to be extended until the end of 2013.
The current agreement between NATO and Iraqi government states that troops and trainers of the Alliance states are responsible only to military justice of NATO or its Member States and not to the Iraqi military justice. Baghdad refused to extend this immunity after 31 December and after the last American troops leave.
“The mission, which began in 2004 at the request of Iraqi authorities, was a success. Our instructors can be very proud of what we have achieved in the last seven years,” said Rasmussen. NATO has about 130 trainers to Iraq from 13 Member States and Ukraine.
