“Today Sunday, April 22, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, welcomed Gerd Muller, Germany’s Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development and his accompanying delegation, composed of a number of German parliamentarians,” a readout from the KRG states.
During their meeting, the German delegation praised the Peshmerga and the people of Kurdistan for their fight against ISIS, and welcomed the normalization of ties between the KRG and Baghdad and the wider world.
“[Muller] reiterated that humanitarian and military aid from his country to the Kurdistan Region [will continue],” the readout adds.
“He reveled that Germany pays great attention to its old ties with the Kurdistan Region and wishes for relations at all levels to progress forth, especially in economic and trade sectors,” the statement said.
The KRG PM asked for Germany’s continued military and humanitarian aid, “and emphasized that developing ties is Kurdistan Region’s priority.”
“In another part of his talks, his excellency pointed out that the Kurdistan Region and Iraq have good opportunities for investment, for this regard, he showed facilitation and help for the arrival of foreign companies.”
The two sides touched on the topic of Iraqi elections, KRG-Baghdad relations, and IDPs – especially the Yezidis, thousands of whom have been relocated to Germany for asylum and rehabilitation following their ordeal at the hands of ISIS.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Iraq, Muller told German media that supporting efforts to help IDPs return to their homes is a top priority.
“We are now in the phase that these internally displaced people can return to the destroyed cities. And our job is to help the government rebuild,” he told the Tagesschau news service.
“Iraq needs support in managing these large refugee movements in the country itself.”
Germany supported the Peshmerga forces with MILAN anti-tank weapons and training. It has also contributed substantial humanitarian aid.
The KRG Prime Minister was invited to Berlin in December last year. Germany played a role in facilitating talks between Erbil and Baghdad when ties between the two collapsed following the Kurdish independence referendum.
