(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Italian parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a request by the government to send arms to Iraqi Kurdistan troops (Peshmerga) who are fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in northern Iraq.
The weapons will be sent through the Iraqi central government in Baghdad.
The approval came at the end of discussions of statements by the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Defense, through the Parliament Committees of Foreign Affairs and Defense.
The two statements explained the necessity of speeding up military support to Kurds troops with light weapons, weapons including anti-tank rockets, automatic weapons, machine guns and ammunition.
Some of the weapons are Italian -made and the rest includes a Soviet shipment confiscated during the Balkan wars, almost two decades before.
In her statement to the Parliament, Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, said that offering weapons to the Peshmerga goes in line with the results of the last week European Union (EU) ministerial meeting and two relevant resolutions by the UNSC, 2169 and 2170.
She denied that the step and the international interference in Iraq is part of "clash of civilizations or religions," saying the Italian initiative proves the contrary, namely defending coexistence among followers different faiths on the same land.
She explained that Italy's support is not confined to militarty supplies,as the last of six airlift planes arrived in Irabil today carrying humanitarian aid. Up to 50 tons of Italian aid was delivered.
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