Deputy Defence Minister Sonya Yankulova returned from a visit to Iraq, where Defence Ministry representatives met Bulgarian troops on mission at the Ashraf refugee camp.

The work of the Bulgarian troops received positive evaluation from the commanders of the mission, Yankulova said. Bulgarians are responsible for camp security.

During the visit Bulgarian Defence Ministry representatives met the Iraqi defence minister Abdul-Qader Mohammed Jasim and the NATO training mission - Iraq commander Martin E. Dempsey.

Bulgaria and Iraq discussed opportunities for military co-operation, a Defence Ministry press release said. Jasim said his country was thankful for the training of Iraqi soldiers that was taking place in Bulgaria.

Iraq was willing to expand the current co-operation, Jasim said.

Yankulova said that the Iraqi army was improving fast and had already started working in several regions of the country to guarantee security and stability there.