Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has just left Iraq after a secret visit to hold high-level defence meetings in Baghdad and to meet New Zealand trainers at Camp Taji north of the capital. While there, he hinted there was a role for New Zealand in the reconstruction of Iraq. Brownlee was on his third trip to Iraq as Defence Minister and was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating. Brownlee travelled by helicopter from Baghdad airport to the secure international zone where he met Iraqi President Fuad Masum, Iraqi Defence Force head General Othman Alghanimi and senior United States generals, General Stephen Townsend and General Joe Martin. At a press conference with the Iraqi general, Brownlee congratulated Iraq for taking the fight to Isis.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 21, 2017 22:44 UTC