Prime Minister pays surprise visit to Iraq

Prime Minister Marek Belka unexpectedly appeared on Sunday at a ceremony during which the leadership over the multinational division in Iraq was handed over to General Andrzej Ekiert, who took over command from General Mieczysław Bieniek. Premier Belka announced that Poland will keep a presence in Iraq at least to the end of 2005, but the number of soldiers will be gradually reduced. As the Defense Ministry informed, in January 2005 the contingent should comprise of not more than 1,500 soldiers, while now over 2,400 Polish troops are stationed in Camp Babylon. The Prime Minister emphasized that he is counting on increasing the role of the Iraqi security forces, which could possibly make the presence of multinational division unnecessary. Belka added that after 2005 the nature of the mission will have to be changed and the division reorganized, or that its role could be considered as having been fulfilled. (Rzeczpospolita, July 19, p. A1; Gazeta Wyborcza, July 19, p. 1) A.F.