'Germany's support for Peshmerga has been central to the war on ISIS': PM Barzani

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with German parliamentarians Thomas Erndl, the Deputy Chair Foreign Affairs Committee from the Christian Social Union (CSU), and Roderich Kiesewetter from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC–2022) on Saturday.

"We discussed developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region's role in the stability of the region," Barzani wrote in a Facebook post. "We stressed further developing bilateral relations."

In his meeting with the two German parliamentarians, the prime minister welcomed the Bundeswehr's (German Army) renewed mandate for supporting the Peshmerga and expressed the keenness of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for more German investment in the autonomous region. 

The German Federal Parliament Bundestag agreed to extend the German army's mission in Iraq until October 2022. Up to 553 deputies in the German Federal Parliament voted in favor of the resolution, while 110 voted against it, and only one MP abstained.

I strongly welcome the decision by the German Parliament to renew the Bundeswehr mission in Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region.

This mandate, and the support of the Global Coalition, is critical to the war on ISIS and training of Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army -mb.

— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) January 28, 2022

Read More: 'Germany is a supporting partner in many of the KRG initiatives': German Consulate in Erbil

"Germany's support for Peshmerga has been central to the war on ISIS," Barzani tweeted. "The terror threats and humanitarian challenges remain serious."

Glad to see Bundestag’s @TErndl and @RKiesewetter today.

Germany’s support for Peshmerga has been central to the war on ISIS. The terror threats and humanitarian challenges remain serious. Welcomed renewed Bundeswehr mandate.

We’re keen to see more German investment. pic.twitter.com/woU6k9sKRo

— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) February 19, 2022

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German assistance to the Iraqi armed forces and the Peshmerga is part of Berlin's contribution to the US-led coalition against ISIS and NATO's mission in Iraq. 

The three-day MSC-2022 began in Munich, Germany, on Friday. Its primary focus is on Western strategy vis-à-vis the Ukraine crisis, but solutions for managing the pandemic and climate change were also discussed.

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The Ukraine crisis loomed large over this year's gathering in Munich. Russia is not officially represented. Moscow's deployment of tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's borders has sparked fears of war breaking out in Europe. 

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