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Handed-out file photos of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and Iraqi PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Photo: German Chancellery Office/ Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz spoke on the phone on Thursday, discussing security and intelligence coordination in the fight against terrorism, according to a statement by Kadhimi’s office.
Kadhimi and Scholz discussed bilateral relations between both countries. In the statement, Kadhimi expressed his hope that “relations between both countries would witness further progress and prosperity.”
Iraqi PM “indicated the significance of the German role in participating in the fight against terrorist, in which Iraq plays the role of the first responder,” it added. Kadhimi also stressed the importance of security and intelligence cooperation between both countries in the fight against terrorism.
Among other issues discussed in the phone call were Iraq’s interest in German investment, as well as the conditions of Iraqi migrants in Germany, according to the statement.
Germany has been an essential member of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). The Coalition was formally established in October 2014, after ISIS took control of vast swathes of territories in Iraq and Syria. Consisting of 84 nations, the US-led Coalition’s mission has been “degrading and ensuring Daesh’s enduring defeat,” it says on its website, using the Arabic acronym for the extremist group.
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.
The German government decided on January 12 to end its military mission in Syria but to keep up to 500 soldiers in Iraq until the end of October 2022. The government sent a motion to parliament which voted in favour of the extension of the troops' mandate in Iraq for nine months.
Germany’s defence ministry said last month that there are currently around 250 German soldiers in Iraq, taking part in missions conducted by the global coalition against ISIS and NATO mission.
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