Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani speaking to Rudaw in Berlin on January 12, 2022. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani told Rudaw on Thursday that he expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with German entities in the energy field in an attempt to address chronic electricity shortages in Iraq.
Sudani is set to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Friday to discuss numerous projects aimed at improving Iraq’s power grid.
During the trip to Germany, the prime minister seeks to obtain an increase in German companies operating in Iraq, particularly in “reconstruction and development of infrastructure,” according to a statement by Sudani’s office.
“The government seeks to establish airline transport between the two capitals, Baghdad and Berlin, and the rest of the Iraqi and German cities,” it added.
Sudani told Rudaw’s Alla Shally that an important relationship exists between Germany and Iraq, praising the role played by Berlin in supporting the country in its fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
“Germany has been one of the countries supporting the stability and unity of Iraq and supporting the democratic political process,” he said.
Germany has been an essential member of the global coalition against ISIS. The combat mission of the Coalition ended in Iraq at the end of the last year, but it continues to provide consultation and training to the Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga. The German army has been mostly based in the Kurdistan Region.
In October, the German parliament announced it was extending its military mandate in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region by another year, maintaining its advisory and training role.
Sudani also spoke of the importance of German support in supporting the Yazidi community, adding that the Iraqi government has also enacted a number of laws and decisions to guarantee their rights in the country.
The German parliament approved a petition calling for the recognition of the crimes committed by ISIS against the Yazidis as genocide, but it is yet to hold a vote to complete the process.
Germany houses dozens of Yazidi diaspora. It is among the few countries that have taken legal action against the militant group.
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