Bulgaria provides military assistance to Iraq
30 September 2014 News
On 18 September, the Council of Ministers adopted a decree on the conditions and procedures for the provision of emergency military assistance to the Iraqi government. The military aid - nearly 1,800 pieces of small arms and light weapons and six million rounds of ammunition - is provided by the Ministry of Defense. The military surplus donation is worth nearly BGN 5 960 000.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held consultations with the Iraqi government and coordinated the transport of the aid. Iraq has already received the donation which was transported with the help of partner countries.
The legal basis for the provision of military ssistance is based on aUN Security Council Resolution of 8 June 2004 and EU’sCommon Position of 19 July 2004,accordingto which the supply of arms and related materials to Iraq is acceptable in case theyare needed by theIraqi government.
The influence of Islamic State has been growing on the territory of Iraq in recent months, with the expansion acquiring a transnational character, jeopardizing the security and stability of the entire region. On 15 August 2014, at an emergency meeting, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted Conclusions on Iraq and expressed strong concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the country. The Council strongly condemned the actions of Islamic State and welcomed the decision of individual Member States to respond to the call of Kurdish regional authorities for urgent provision of military assistance.
In this extremely unstable situation, the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces have the potential and real opportunity to fight Islamic State forces which determines the need to provide them with emergency military aid through the Iraqi government.