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United
Kingdom forces continue to make good progress in helping
Iraq become a stable and united state.
The vast majority of Iraqis welcomed the fall of the
Saddam régime. The newly formed Governing Council
has given Iraqis a representative voice after decades
of oppression. The Coalition will work with the Governing
Council to rebuild Iraq. It will hand over to an elected
government as soon as possible. The UK is playing a
major role, and has seconded experts to work in the
Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad in a wide
range of fields: political, financial, legal, security,
health, education, roads, forensics, war crimes, prisons,
culture and communications. We are also assisting in
the training of a new Iraqi Army and the Iraqi police.
Since
the collapse of the former regime, and the announcement
of the end of decisive combat operations on 1 May, the
Coalition's main effort has been directed towards establishing
a safe and secure Iraq. Security is an essential part
of the political and economic rehabilitation of the
country, and Coalition stabilisation operations continue.
Those who violently oppose the Coalition represent a
desperate minority. In the south, UK forces have developed
close links with local communities, and have helped
to improve the availability of water, food, power and
medical supplies, which had previously been used as
a means of control by Saddam Hussein. Iraqis are making
the most of their new freedoms. However, the security
environment remains difficult in places, particularly
in Baghdad and the surrounding area. We are assisting
our Coalition allies in a number of ways, including
sharing British expertise in urban operations, derived
from many years experience in Northern Ireland and the
Balkans.
The
roulement of UK forces set out in my Written Statement
of 11 June (Official Report, Col. 51-52WS) continues.
Today, about 11,000 UK servicemen and women drawn from
all three Services remain in the Gulf region and Iraq.
The deployment of 3 (UK) Division, 19 Mechanised Brigade
and 101 Logistic Brigade is nearing completion. The
Royal Navy is maintaining a presence of five vessels
in the Gulf. The Joint Helicopter Force of 18 helicopters
based at Basrah continues to support forces on the ground.
We are considering the scope for rear-basing two RAF
Tornado GR4 in the UK, leaving six in theatre with a
number of supporting aircraft, in line with the reduced
requirement for sorties.
UK
forces are already working closely with military contingents
from a number of countries, and further forces are due
to deploy over the coming weeks. Headquarters 3 (UK)
Division formally took over command of the Multinational
Division (South East) (MND(SE)) on 12 July. This division
is now responsible for Coalition forces in four provinces
in Southern Iraq, namely Al Basrah, Maysan, Dhi Qar
and Al Muthanna. Nine countries have committed troops,
and discussions continue with a number of others. When
fully assembled, non-UK multinational contributions
to MND(SE) should total some 5,500 military personnel.
In
Al Basrah province, a Czech Field Hospital and a company
of military police, over 300 Czech personnel in all,
will be attached to Headquarters MND(SE). The Czech
Field Hospital has been doing valuable work in Iraq
since May. 38 Engineer Regiment of 19 Mechanised Brigade
will work alongside a 140-strong Norwegian company in
the Al Basrah and Maysan provinces. We also expect the
deployment of around 40 New Zealand engineers with a
small support staff for humanitarian and reconstruction
tasks. Also in Maysan province, a Danish battlegroup
of some 450 personnel including a 30-strong Lithuanian
contingent has for some weeks been operating out of
Al Qurnah. In Al Muthanna province, a 1,100-strong Dutch
battlegroup comprising a Marine battalion, engineer
company, medical facility and a military police platoon,
will be based in As Samawah. In addition, three Dutch
Chinook helicopters will be deployed to Tallil. The
Italian mechanised brigade in Dhi Qar province will
be 2,800 strong, and will be supported by a Romanian
mechanised battalion and military police company (520
personnel), and a 130-strong security force company
of Portuguese National Guard in a policing role. These
contributions to MND(SE) represent a powerful symbol
of the international community's commitment to the future
of Iraq.
The
rotation of the UK divisional headquarters, the deployment
of international contingents, and the inception of MND(SE)
makes this an appropriate juncture to take stock of
planned force levels. This process is continuing. If
necessary, we will make further adjustments to our deployed
forces. We remain committed to maintaining appropriate
forces in Iraq for as long as necessary and no longer.
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