Germany, Finland, Sweden support Peshmerga to become part of UN peacekeeping force

ERBIL, Kurdistan (Kurdistan 24) – Military commanders representing Germany, Finland, and Sweden based in Erbil on Thursday backed Peshmerga forces to become part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.

Brigadier General Hazhar Omar, the Director of Coordination and Relations for the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, told Kurdistan 24 the German, Swedish, and Finnish military commanders in the Kurdistan Region had expressed their support for the Peshmerga forces to become part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission.

Omar said the possibility of using some Peshmerga units as part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission was discussed during the meeting with commanders from the three European contingents in Kurdistan.

“The German, Swedish, and Finnish military commanders expressed their support for the initiative,” the Peshmerga official said, adding that Germany had initially agreed to sponsor the project.

Omar explained that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including the acting Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, Karim Sinjari, is aware of the project and will monitor it.

He noted that the project is in its early stages but will be supported and sponsored by the three European countries following the consent of their governments as well as the approval of the Iraqi government.

"If approved, Finland and Sweden are ready to discuss providing training for Peshmerga in their countries," Omar told Kurdistan 24.

Omar also said that the Peshmerga forces played a major role in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), noting that if this project succeeds, it will be another good achievement for the Peshmerga forces.”  

Since the start of the war against IS extremists, German, Swedish, and Finnish military advisers, stationed in Erbil, have been training the Kurdish forces.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany