ROME -- Whilst the meeting between Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi got off to an awkward start with the guard of honour getting it wrong and welcoming the Prime Minister of Iran, the Iraqi premier reportedly said he had had a very productive visit.  According to sources, the alliance between Italy and Iraq in the field of investment and the training of troops to oppose Daesh were discussed.

 The Iraqi Prime Minister’s great wish requires a great deal of optimism.  It is that of “ridding Iraq of Daesh before the end of the year.  But we do not want troops that are not Iraqi on our land, if not in the training capacity.” He announced in the Palzzo Chigi on Wednesday.  A nod towards Italian involvement, with one of their best officers already in Baghdad helping to train the Iraqi army, and 450 more set to be deployed for the protection of the Mosul Dam.

 This is not the only time that Mr Al-Abadi thanked the Italians during his to Rome.  The leader of the sector has already signed the contract for the protection of the safety of the dam, which is situated 35 kilometres from Mosul and is the source of water for all Iraqis.

 “Our two governments are working together for the safety of key defensive areas,” said Renzi. “We are convinced that we can work well with our friends, the Iraqi government, in the logistics of sharing duties and collaborating.”  “You shall do soon,” responded the Iraqi, reminding us that the dam “was, for a short time, under the control of Daesh, with negative consequences for the state of the structure.”

 It was in the course of this discussion, which lasted just under an hour, that Mr Al-Abadi expressed his wish of defeating ISIS by the end of the year.  “Daesh suffered a hard blow at Ramadi,” stated the Iraqi Prime Minister, referring to the liberation of the city on Tuesday, “We hope that this will help at Mosul as well.”

 “These terrorists without scruples should know that they will lose this battle.  Iraq, and with her the international community, will win this struggle.” Renzi promised, adding that, “Italy is one of the most involved countries, with around 700 men.”

 The Italian government is planning to send another 130 military members to Erbil on health projects and to help the injured.

 Near the end of their meeting, after discussing the lowering of the price of petrol, Al-Abadi told Renzi, that he doesn’t “need to rely any longer” only on crude oil.  The Iraqi Prime Minister had also met with the director of ENI, Claudio Descalzi, to discuss “the prospects of development in the oil sector in Iraq and the activity of developing the Zubair oil-fields”, according to a statement from the Italian enterprise on Tuesday.  ENI have been present in Iraq since 2009.

 In his visit to Rome the Iraqi Prime Minister was also received by the Pope and launched an appeal to all Italian businesses to invest in his country, despite the situation.

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