8/14/2011
Iraq keen on rebuilding own army, be part of decision making in region - Iraqi VP
Baghdad, Iraq's Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi said on Sunday that his country was keen on regaining its military might so that it has a role in the decision making in the region and the world, considering the US military presence in Iraq was part of the problem and not the solution.
Al-Hashemi said, in a press statement, that Iraqis were now more keen to regain their military capability, adding that they were now working to rebuild their military to protect the rebuilding efforts and developments, in order to compensate the huge losses over the past eight years.
The Iraqi official said that the "entrance of US forces to the land in 2003 has undermined security and created sensitivity toward neighboring countries, therefore their departure would contribute to improving the security situation in the country."
Al-Hashemi added that his country did not want to extend the time period of security agreement with Washington nor any new security deal with the US, adding that "Iraq is now rebuilding its armed forces and needs experience and skills of neighboring countries to arm the Iraqi military with arms and equipment from them, including US."
The Iraqi official hoped as well that his country would open up its market to Russia and former Warsaw Pact member countries, South East Asia, and the European Union (EU) due to their armament capabilities.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2185086&Language=en
