Abdul Qadir Mohammed Jassim – Defence Minister

Greetings…

I was delighted to receive your kind invitation to attend the Iraq Defence, Security and Communications Summit, which make us feel that we have friends we can rely on during tough times and we have friends who work honestly and silently for peace and stability to prevail in Iraq, the cradle of civilization to be able to push forward strongly again to the horizons of building and reconstruction to make up the missed development opportunities.

I sense the good effect of this invitation which dedicates the mutual cooperation between Iraq and the Iraq Development Program (IDP) to reach the goals that can lead to achieve our noble aim in building a strong Iraq and enabling it to defeat terror and its plans. I would like to thank the Iraq Development Program for nominating the leading international companies specialised in defence and security needs. I hope for this summit to be productive and beneficial to both Iraq and the Iraqi people.

I am optimistic that the efforts are directed to discuss matters of high sensitivity and have an effective role in Iraq's security and stability, the most important issues of which are border security and control to prevent smuggling terrorists and insurgents into Iraq and an effective defence system to eradicate insurgency and attacks. The latest surveillance technologies and secured communications means should be chosen to keep up with the latest technology advances in that respect.

I sincerely hope that your summit will be a golden chance for us to modernise our military capabilities and to choose from the best military equipment in addition to ensuring the best training opportunities for the Iraqi Army in a way that can accelerate the readiness of our security forces to take over fully the security responsibilities. This is especially significant given that our army has special support from the General Commander of the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister and the elected Iraqi Government to competently defend Iraq 's borders and the country's new democracy.

I confirm here today our happiness for your help and our sincere desire to benefit from the opportunities provided by the Iraq Development Program to serve our country and maintain peace and civilisation in its march towards development.

I would like finally, on behalf of my government, to thank and appreciate the efforts made for Iraq , wishing this summit all the success to achieve its noble goals.