Posted on 09/21/2006 5:37:05 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD -- The Government of Iraq took control of the southern province of Dhi Qar on Thursday in a move Coalition officials called ‘another sign of progress toward a stable and secure Iraq,’ placing the country one step closer to full self governance.
An Italian Soldier takes in the view atop the Ziggurat of Ur in Iraq's Dhi Qar province. The location, in southern Iraq, is purported to be the hometown of the biblical figure Abraham. Dhi Qar is slated to be transferred to provincial Iraqi control later this month. Al Muthanna, a neighboring province, was the first of Iraq's 18 provinces to achieve this status in July. Department of Defense photo by Air Force Capt. Thomas Montgomery.
Dhi Qar is the second of Iraq’s 18 provinces transferred to provincial Iraqi control. With the change in status, Coalition security forces are helping local police and the Iraqi military take full control of security in the region.
Coalition officials and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki say they hope to have all 18 of the country’s provinces under Iraqi control by the end of next year.
‘Today we received the security file for the province of Dhi Qar which follows the handover of Al-Muthanna,’ al-Maliki said during the handover ceremony.
‘We will continue to receive control of other provinces as we manage to get our country back from the hands of the Ba’ath dictatorship.’
‘We still have to improve basic services. There are those who work to support terrorists,” he explained. “We tell them that those days are gone.’
The U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the commanding general of Multi-National Force - Iraq, congratulated the Iraqi people in a joint statement on Thursday.
“After decades of dictatorship and oppression, the Iraqi people have taken another step toward security self-reliance,’ the leaders said. ‘With the steadfast support of the Coalition, Iraq is on a path to national unity, improved security, and increasing prosperity that benefits all its citizens.’
They assured the Coalition would stick by the provincial government and security forces in facing new challenges, even as responsibility for day to day tasks transitioned to Iraqi control.
‘Coalition forces stand ready to provide assistance if needed ... As Iraq develops and its needs continue to evolve, so too will the nature of international assistance and investment. The United States remains committed to the development of Dhi Qar province by providing funding for additional humanitarian relief and reconstruction projects.’
The statement noted several other Iraqi provinces are close to meeting the criteria necessary to assume security independence.
Major Gen. Kurt A. Cichowski, a deputy chief of staff for MNF-I, said there are four key conditions to determine a province’s eligibility for transfer: the capability of the Iraqi security forces, threat levels in the province, local government capacity, and the provincial government's relationship with Coalition forces.
“We are always in that process … of evaluating the four areas in all of the provinces. When the conditions are met for the provinces in the remaining areas then they will transfer too,” Cichowski said.
The responsibility for Dhi Qar’s transfer was mostly handled by the Italian contingent there, led by Brig. Gen. Carmine De Pascale, commander of the Italian Joint Task Force - Iraq.
“This result was attained by Dhi Qar provincial authorities and Coalition forces through a long and intense period of sacrifices and efforts,” De Pascale said.
A task force of about 1,500 Italian troops, along with Romanian, Australian and some British Soldiers worked closely with the local government in the province - training and equipping the local Police and Army, mentoring government officials, and organizing construction projects like schools and clinics.
‘We will continue the program of peace as we say good bye to the Italian troops,’ Alwan said. ‘I call upon the Iraqis to stay together given the sacrifices that they have made.’
The Coalition transferred neighboring Al Muthanna province on July 13. Since then, Al Muthanna’s local police and military forces have had full responsibility for the province's security and continue to run operations there without Coalition prodding.
“I wish all the best to the provincial leaders and to the people of Dhi Qar,” De Pascale said.
Dhi Qar is especially important to archeologists, historians and tourists. It contains the site of the ancient city of Ur, purported to be the hometown of the biblical figure Abraham. Near the ruins of the ancient city stands the Ziggurat of Ur, a towering ancient temple dating back more than 4,000 years. Iraqis and tourists can freely visit this area, something they could not do under the oppression of Saddam Hussein, said Cichowski.
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