A Delegation from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense Visits the Croatian Ministry of Defense (MORH)

A delegation from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense led by the Ministry’s Secretary-General Mr. Jabbar Thjaiel Mutlaq Al-Haidari visited the Croatian Ministry of Defense on 31st August 2021 in an official visit to Croatia between 26th August and 1st September 2021. Secretary-General Mr. Al-Haidari was accompanied by Director General of the Ministry’s Budget and Military Programs Mr. Qais Muhammad Ali, and the Director of the Infantry Forces Major General Mr. Muhammad Soballah Muhammad Magasis.

The delegation met with State Secretary for Defense Mr. Zdravko Jakob, Chief of the General Staff Major-General Mr. Ivica Olujić, Director of the Financial Affairs at the Ministry Mr. Ivica Grebenar, the Croatian Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Ivan Juric, and representatives of the Finance Department at the Ministry of Defense. From the Embassy, the Head of Mission Mr. Amer Abdulhussein Al-Fatlawi was present and accompanied by all of Counselor Mr. Ammar Mohammed Dawood, and Second Secretary Mr. Khalid Abdulsattar Hasan Al-Ogaidi.

The two sides discussed means of Military cooperation between Iraq and Croatia, the ability of training Iraqi Armed forces, and the possibilities of having courses in the field of explosive detection and the use of police dogs (K-9). Also, they talked about benefiting from the Croatian manufacturing experiences and its capabilities in the field of building logistical support equipment.

State Secretary for Defense Mr. Zdravko Jakob complimented the cooperation between the two countries, especially within the framework of NATO’s mission to Iraq, and pointed to the possibility of cooperation in the field of training and education, highlighting the new “Naval Studies” (offered in English) which is available now in the Croatian city of Split, where there are training possibilities within the International Military Operations Training Centre “IMOTC Josip Briški”.

Mr. Al-Haidari acknowledged the Croatian counter-terrorism efforts in supporting Iraq via its active participation in the NATO training mission to Iraq, as he evaluated his visit to Croatia as ‘successful’, especially the delegation’s tour to HS Produkt company. Mr. Al-Haidari also revealed his hopes that Iraq will participate in the upcoming ASDA (Adriatic Sea Defense & Aerospace) exhibition that will take place in the city of Split this September.