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Minister of Defense Pinotti in Iraq: “The war fought by the Iraqi Government, is one of all those who love international harmony and peace. Italy is truly committed and stands aside Iraq in this difficult moment”.

On July 15, the Italian Minister of Defense, Roberta Pinotti, and the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Graziano, visited Iraq. The visit had a positive echo in the Iraqi press, and the Italian Government closeness to Iraq in this delicate moment of the country’s history was greatly underlined. The press also reported the many existing fields of cooperation, especially the military one.

On July 16, “Al Forat newspaper” related the arrival in Baghdad of the Minister and reported the topics addressed during the meeting with the Iraqi Defense Minister, Obeidi, and during the meeting with the Iraqi Interior Minister, Ghabban. The newspaper mentioned the main conversation issues, including the common purpose in the fight against terrorism, as well as Italy’s great effort for cooperation in the Iraqi Security Forces training sector and the possibility to strengthen it, in light of the beginning of the campaign to take over Ramadi.

NINA, the National Iraqi News Agency, offered a more detailed report of the meeting between Minister Pinotti and Minister Al-Obeidi: Ms. Pinotti asked about the developments in Anbar military campaign and Mr. Obeidi referred his satisfaction for the respect of scheduled actions prepared by the Army Officials. According to NINA, Mr. Obeidi congratulated Ms. Pinotti for the Italian contribution to anti-Da’esh Coalition, with a reference to the historical friendship between the two people and countries and to the comprehensive approach of Italian support.

BAS News reported the speech of Minister Pinotti: “The battle of Iraq is the one of all those who love international harmony and peace. Italy is deeply committed and stands at the side of the Iraqi Government in this very difficult moment”. This statement is reported by all the other main newspapers.

AIN News focused on the meeting between Ms. Pinotti and the Minister of Interior, Mr. Ghabban. The article resumes the consideration done about the possibilities to win the war: it will be possible only by adopting an holistic approach that has to include non military means and that aims to tackle media propaganda of Da’esh.

Shafaq News principally covered the visit of Minister Pinotti to Erbil. Commenting on a press statement released by the Presidency of Kurdish Regional Government, Shafaq referred about the meeting between Ms. Pinotti and the President of Kurdish Government, Nechirvan Barzani. The newspaper highlighted the appreciation of Ms. Pinotti for the Kurdish efforts, especially the Peshmerga’s commitment. PM Barzani recalled the entity of Italian aid referring both to the Kurdish forces training and to the humanitarian assistance for the refugee camps in the Iraqi Kurdistan. Shafaq news lastly pointed out that the visit is one of a series of meetings with Italian authorities that mark a particular attention towards the Kurdish region efforts, in particular recalling the visit of Italian PM Renzi, the first one of a Government chief to Erbil Institutions.