Islamic State threatens whole world
Al-Jafari also appreciated Prague's humanitarian and political support for Baghdad.
“We discussed Czech military support for Iraq as well as the opportunities for Czechs to participate in the building of infrastructure in the country,” al-Jafari said at a press briefing.
Zaorálek said the Czech Republic “is deeply interested in the existence of the stable democratic Iraq.”
“We fully support the fight of the Iraqi people against terrorists from Islamic State and other associated groups,” Zaorálek (senior government Social Democrats, ČSSD) added.
Zaorálek, on whose visit to Iraq the Foreign Ministry did not inform media beforehand for security reasons, landed in Baghdad at 08:00 CET. He immediately left for the Presidential Palace to meet Iraqi President Fuad Masum.
Tight security measures were taken in Baghdad during Zaorálek's visit, including armored vehicles, tanks and roadblocks as well as soldiers armed with sub-machine and machine guns protecting the motorcade.
Zaorálek wearing a bulletproof vest was transported in an armored car.
After a one-hour meeting with Masum, Zaorálek met Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi.
Zaorálek is accompanied in Iraq by Deputy Defense Minister Tomas Kuchta and a delegation of Czech businesspeople, including representative of the Aero Vodochody aircraft produce, Tatra truck maker and the LOM Praha state firm, founded by the Defense Ministry. They will spend less than 24 hours in the country.
From Baghdad, Zaorálek will move to Irbil, the administrative centre of Iraqi Kurdistan, where he will meet representatives of the region.
At the end of August, the Czech government approved the delivery of ten million rounds of ammunition for Kalashnikov assault rifles, eight million rounds for machine guns and 5,000 for rocket-propelled grenades along with 5000 hand grenades to the Kurds.
Eight million rounds of ammunition for the Kalashnikovs were delivered by the end of September, but it is not clear when the rest is shipped.
Along with the Iraqi military, the Kurdish Peshmergas are trying to stop an offensive of the Islamists who have occupied large areas of Iraq and Syria.
Czech President Miloš Zeman recently told ČTK that Prague should adopt a more resolute policy against Islamists and along with ammunition, it should send weapons to Kurdistan. He said he could imagine the use of the Czech Gripen fighters against Islamic State.
Prague Post
