December 22, the last rotation of personnel before Lithuania's withdrawal from the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I), returned to Lithuania.
"It was a big challenge for the Lithuanian Armed Forces and I am very happy that our troops have done their job well and earned superb evaluations by personnel of partner countries and Iraq. Naturally, in this mission our servicemembers have also gained priceless experience which will be useful in training for national defence assignments", R. Juknevičienė said.
NATO Training Mission-Iraq is closed as of December 12 of 2011 by decision of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making body in NATO, stipulating full withdrawal of all the NATO training personnel from Iraq before December 31 of 2011. The mission with was launched in 2004 involved 23 NATO members and one partner country. NATO will continue collaboration with the Iraqi Government to ensure stability in the region and peace after the termination of NTM-I.
Lithuania joined NTM-I in February of 2005. During the period 39 Lithuanian military rotated to train NCOs of the Iraqi Armed Forces and serve in NTM-I staffs.
Lithuania took part in the multinational operation in Iraq from 2003. The total of over 900 Lithuanian troops has completed duty in Iraq, the first 8 logistics specialists and 4 military medics were sent in April 2003. Lithuanian military medics provided medical care for locals in two hospitals, one installed in a Spanish warship Galicia in Umm Qasr Seaport, and a civilian city hospital.
Logistics specialists of the National Defence Volunteer Force were involved in humanitarian mission in Tallil Air Base, responsibility area of the United Kingdom. Lithuanian military operated special equipment for discharge work, serviced transport aircrafts of the allied forces.
From 2003 to 2004 Lithuanian troops fulfilled duty at the NATO Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) headquarters, headquarters of the UK-led Multinational Division in Basra, and headquarters of the Polish-led Multinational Division.
From early January of 2006 to the end of January of 2007 Lithuanian staff officers took part in NTM-I in Ad Diwaniyah, the responsibility region of the Polish-led Multinational Division.
The most numerous Lithuania's contribution in Iraq was LITCON serving with the Danish Battalion, the sector under the UK responsibility near Basra in south Iraq, in Al Kuta in eastern Iraq (10 half-year rotations) and LITDET with the Polish Division in Poland's responsibility area in Al Hillah and Al Kut (5 half-year rotations).
For more information contact PAO for JHQ Capt Marius Varna: office phone 00370 5 219 64 01, cell phone 00370 686 35 407
Pictures from MoND archive
