New German Consul stresses aid, investment in Kurdistan with PM Barzani

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The new German envoy in Erbil stated that her country would continue its humanitarian assistance to the Kurdistan Region and encouraged German firms to invest there during a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil on Wednesday.

“She stressed further developing bilateral relations and cooperation with the Kurdistan Region. She reiterated the continuation of humanitarian and military assistance, provided by Germany to the Kurdistan Region,” the Prime Minister’s press statement reads, describing discussions with recently-appointed Consul General Barbara Wolf.

“She also stressed encouraging German companies to invest in the [Kurdistan] Region.”

Barzani congratulated Wolf for her new position and thanked her government for its humanitarian and military support to the Kurdistan Region, particularly in the field of the reform of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. The Prime Minister also expressed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) desire to further strengthen the allies' relations.

The formation of the new Iraqi government and developments in the greater Middle Eastern region were discussed as well, according to the statement.

Wolf also met with Masoud Barzani, the former President of the Kurdistan Region and the current head of the region’s leading political group, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). During the meeting, they discussed German military training to Peshmerga, the current political situation in Iraq, and the upcoming parliamentary election on Sep. 30 in the Kurdistan Region, according to Barzani’s media office.

The Kurdish leader also praised Germany's support of the Kurdistan Region and of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), commending the plan and efforts to further develop economic ties between Berlin and Erbil.

Germany is one of the members of the US-led coalition in the fight against IS. It has provided both military and humanitarian assistance to the Kurdish semi-autonomous region over the past few years. The country officially opened its consulate in Erbil in Feb. 2009.

Editing by John J. Catherine