By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army General Babakr Zebari has said that the stay of the US forces in Iraq through 2011 will be enough to rebuild the Iraqi army.
“The Iraqi army and police forces will do their utmost to crush insurgents,” he said in a press statement Sunday following his call on Shiite leader Ayatollah Al-Sistani.
“Anyone who carries weapons against the army, the police, the government and or the citizens will face a harsh reaction. This is our basic line,” Zebari said.
“No true Iraqi national can carry weapons against his fellow nationals, particularly the Iraqi army which is doing its utmost to ensure security, stability, freedom and basic services for the entire nation.
“The army aims to build Iraq as a modern country with a strong economy and good infrastructure,” the senior military leader said.
Asked about the ability of the army to crush insurgents, Zebari said: “The files of law-breakers including the extremists, terrorists, fundamentalists, Baathists are quite easy for the military.”
“The Iraqi armed forces will be fully capable of maintaining security nationwide after the expiry of the mandate of the US-led Multi-National Forces (MNF) in Iraq late this year.
“The mandate of the US army, which has been extended to 2011 under the recently-adopted status of the forces agreement (SOFA), is enough for us to rebuild the army,” he reaffirmed.
“We will continue enhancing the capabilities of the army in coordination with the MNF and the United States during the coming years.
“The process of modernizing the army in terms of personnel and equipment is making remarkable progress as all partners offer sincere cooperation to the Iraqi government.
“The army is expanding its control over the central and southern areas which had seen militant activities in the last period,” Zebari said.
On the dispute over the borders of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, in northern Iraq, notably in Mosul, he said the dispute should be solved in line with Article 140 of the state constitution. “The federal government and the government of Kurdistan are unanimous on the applicability of the provisions of the constitution not only in the northern region but also in the central and southern ones,” he said.
Regarding his call on Sistani, the military leader said that it should have taken place on an earlier date because “we are in need of moral support from the Shiite leader.”
“Al-Sistani warmly welcomed us and prayed for God to help us to succeed in our pursuit,” Zebari said. He said that the current army is totally different from that of the executed dictator (Saddam Hussein).
“This in itself constitutes a great encouragement and moral support to us,” Zebari added.