(9 March 2016) Italy takes a stand in favor of education and training of the Iraqi police force. In recent days, the Italian Carabinieri Task Force in Baghdad, serving in mission “Prima Parthica,” concluded three training courses for approximately 900 policemen from the Iraqi Federal Police and the Local Police. During the graduation ceremony, held at Camp Dublin, the Italian Ambassador to Iraq Massimo Carnelos illustrated the multidisciplinary approach adopted by Italy to support Iraq: military, humanitarian, stabilization and cultural components all play a crucial role in the stabilization of the country, including the recent cultural heritage protection courses held by the Carabinieri in favor of Interior Ministry experts in Baghdad. Since June 2015, Italy has deployed in Baghdad a Carabinieri Task Force of 90 men who so far have trained about 2100 local policemen. The diploma-delivery ceremony also welcomed the Special Envoy of the US President for the Global anti-daesh Coalition Ambassador Brett McGurk, accompanied by top leaders of the Coalition, the deputy representative of the Secretary general of the United Nations Lise Grande, the deputy Iraqi Interior Minister General D. Mowafaq, and the representative of the EU Delegation Thierry Martin. Italy was represented by the Chief of the General Command of the Carabinieri, General C.A. Ilio Ciceri. (Sip)
