Baghdad, Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi, received today, Tuesday, the Commander of Joint Operations, Italian Lieutenant General Francesco Paolo, accompanied by the Italian Ambassador to Iraq Maurizio Griganti. A statement by the Joint Operations Command stated: "The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, and ways to develop them, especially in the military and security fields, in addition to cooperation in training security units, as well as conducting special exercises between the Iraqi and Italian air forces, and between the two special forces of both countries, capacity building, and developing the training curriculum." The two sides also discussed the Iraqi security achievements that resulted in tightening the noose on the remaining terrorist elements whose end is very near. The two sides stressed the importance of building bilateral security relations according to memoranda of understanding within the constitutional and legal fr amework, and in a manner that preserves the sovereignty, independence and security of Iraq. The Italian Joint Operations Commander praised the Iraqi security forces and what they have achieved in security work, stressing his country's keenness to continue developing relations between Iraq and Italy in a manner that serves common interests. Source: National Iraqi News Agency