MONTRÉAL, Québec (CWBN)_ During a ceremony held in Baghdad yesterday (Nov 24), Major-General Jennie Carignan of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), transferred command of the NATO Mission in Iraq to Denmark, Lieutenant-General Per Pugholm Olsen of the Danish Armed Forces, the Canadian Department of National Defence said in a statement.
The NMI is a non-combat training and advisory mission established at the request of the Iraqi Interim Government under the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1546. The Mission also provides advice and support to the Ministry of Defence in Baghdad in the development of its military and overall national security strategies.
Canada led the mission for two consecutive years, under the leadership of Major-General Dany Fortin, who assumed command in November 2018 and Major-General Jennie Carignan took over in the fall of 2019.
The Department of Defence said that Canada’s commitment to the mission would remain steadfast under the leadership of Denmark as well.
“Alongside our Danish and international counterparts, Canada will continue to contribute to the advancement of the mission’s objectives, and more broadly, to the advancement of security and stability of the Middle East region. Canada’s commitment to the mission remains steadfast,” the statement said.
Following the change of command, Carignan complimented the members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their contribution towards the Mission, referring to them as “great ambassadors for Canada and the values we stand for.”
The outgoing commander also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with a group of skilled military and civilian personnel during his year of command “…I had the privilege to work with a team composed of highly skilled military and civilian advisors and mentors from NATO Alliance and partner nations, providing global expertise and best practices in security and defence sector reform, institutional development, and military education,” he said.
As a part of ‘Operation IMPACT’, the Canadian government’s approach in the Middle East, the CAF has deployed approximately 850 personnel in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait, of which 250 personnel were contributed to the NMI. Following Pugholm Olsen’s assumption of command, 17 CAF members will remain part of the Mission directly.
Edited By Chathushka Perera
