Romanian troops to return home on July 31 – spokesman

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The official spokesman for the Defense Ministry on Monday said that the defense minister signed the Romanian forces’ withdrawal agreement according to the decision of the Iraqi cabinet number 439 and the parliament’s decision number 50 of the year 2008. “An agreement was signed to arrange the withdrawal of the 350 personnel which are stationed in Taliel base in Nassiriya and Kut,” Mohamed al-Askari told IraqiNews.com news agency, noting that the withdrawal will start on July 31. “The agreement was signed by Abdul Qader al-Ubeidi from the Iraqi side and the Romanian ambassador in Baghdad,” he added. On December 28, the Iraqi Presidential Board (PB) ratified resolution no. 50 of the year 2008 authorizing the cabinet to organize the presence of foreign forces and their withdrawal from the country. In August 2003, Romania sent over 5,200 servicemen to Iraq, of which only 350 soldiers remain in the country to provide intelligence support. SH (P)/SR 1