Nato Agree To Train Iraqi Forces And To Boost Military Presence In Afghanistan

ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - NATO leaders reached an agreement to train Iraqi security forces and to send reinforcement troops to Afghanistan.
Alliance Spokesman James Appathurai told a press conference that NATO leaders reached an agreement to respond positively to the request of the Iraqi Interim Government for assistance with the training of its security forces, in accordance with UN Security Resolution 1546.
The spokesman added that France and Germany want the training of Iraqi forces to take place outside of Iraqi territory while USA prefer training to take place inside Iraq.
The final declaration of the Istanbul summit was also issued.
Allies are united in their full support for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq and for strengthening of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law and security for all the Iraqi people, the NATO declaration on Iraq said on Monday.
The Iraq declaration, which was ratified by NATO leaders today, encourages members to contribute to the support to be given to the Iraqi government. The Alliance will ask the North Atlantic Council to adopt an emergency method to allow the alliance to help the Iraqi government.
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allavi, who took full sovereignty in Iraq today two days ahead of schedule, had requested help from NATO to train and equip Iraqi security forces.
NATO will undertake a coordinator role in Iraq. The alliance will take on the same role in Iraq as under the name of NATO but now under the name of NATO allies.
The NATO leader decided to expand the mission of the NATO in Afghanistan. The joint declaration also said that NATO would increase its troops in Afghanistan to 10 thousand to secure the presidential and parliamentary elections in September.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has been deploying some 6,400 peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan.
The final declaration of the NATO summit also gave a green light to NATO membership hopefuls Macedonia, Croatia and Albania. The alliance encouraged the three countries to adopt reforms.