German FM Heiko Maas arrives for talks in Erbil

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Heiko Maas, the German minister of foreign affairs, arrived in Erbil on Tuesday afternoon for talks with KRG officials. 

He held a joint press conference with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani after their meeting, going over well-trod ground.

Barzani thanked Germany for their military support training the Peshmerga and assisting in major reforms of the Kurdish armed force. 


German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (L) speaks at a press conference with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani (R) in Erbil on Tuesday. Photo: Rudaw

They also discussed the protracted displacement of more than 1.1 million displaced Iraqis and over 284,000 refugees, mainly from Syria sheltering in the Kurdistan Region. 

Maas confirmed Germany will remain committed to its support of the Kurdistan Region and Barzani said they hope to improve on existing ties, discussing “better relations in all fields.”

Maas flew in from Baghdad, where he met with his Iraqi counterpart Mohamed Ali Alhakim and Iraqi President Barham Salih.


“In recent years, people in Iraq have had many terrible experiences,” the German Foreign Ministry tweeted on Monday. 

“With his visit to Baghdad, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wants to show that Germany stands by their side – now and in the future,” it added.

Salih told the visiting minister that Iraq is open to investment and developing relations with Germany as the country turns towards reconstruction. 

“Iraq is rich in resources and human efficiency, and needs to establish the foundations of a real partnership with the rest of the world to promote the economic reality of the country,” he said, according to a statement from his office. 

A focus of Salih’s early presidency has been building a vision for the future of Iraq, one that would make the country a hub connecting Europe and the Middle East. 

The Iraqi government is expected to announce a reconstruction agency that will attract investment for big infrastructure projects. 

In his meeting with President Salih, Maas “underlined that reforms and reconciliation can now put the country on a positive path,” he said in a tweet.

“Iraq lights a beacon of hope for the region,” he added. 


Germany’s top diplomat also met Bundeswehr troops stationed in Iraq assisting anti-ISIS Coalition operations. 


Germany is among the biggest contributors to military and humanitarian aid to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The central European nation is home to a large Kurdish diaspora and has taken in thousands of Yezidi survivors of the ISIS genocide.  

Updated at 9:36 pm