Iraq Purchases 24 Military Training Aircraft From South Korea

BAGHDAD / NINA / Prime Minister, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Nouri al-Maliki declared that Iraq has signed a contract to buy 24 military training aircraft from South Korea. A statement of the Prime Minister's Media Office said "a contract for purchasing modern military aircraft in favor of the Iraq military air force has been signed today in presence of Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki and Minister of Military Industries in the Republic of South Korea's Lee Yong- Gul". The Prime Minister said, after the signing of the agreement in his official office, that: " today we have signed a contract for the purchase of 24 aircraft (T-50IQ) from Korean for the purposes of training and medium military actions , and the negotiations have ended with the selection of the Iraqi air force after a thorough study of this type of aircraft to its compatibility with the requirements of work , and this deal is the beginning to raise the performance of the defense and interior ministries in the defense of the country and the fight against terrorism , so we have come a long way on the road to complete our air force and we will go in this direction to protect Iraq against any aggression . He added: "I bless the two countries on this deal, wishing more communication on the basis of mutual trust and common interests," adding that "terrorism is not only effecting Iraq but to the whole world that requires international cooperation to confront it, and we are looking forward to achieve this deal in its specified time under the agreement signed between the two countries." . Prime Minister praised the Korean support to Iraq and its companies' presence in various fields, saying that "the Korean companies are always welcomed because they are efficient companies and these positive signs encourage further mutual relations in the field of construction, energy and others. For his part, the Korean Minister expressed his thanks to the Prime Minister and his happiness to the development of bilateral relations and the signing of the agreement, which contribute to raising the level of friendship between the two countries , stressing that his country will do its utmost efforts in order to deliver these advanced aircraft , which will protect the skies and the land of Iraq , on schedule . The Korean minister added that relations not limited to armaments and security cooperation but extends to the fields of construction, energy and others. / End