Germany welcomes return of Peshmerga minister

German Consul General Klaus Streicher underlined the importance of achieving progress with Peshmerga reform.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2023/12/05 22:46

The Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail on Tuesday met with the German General Consul Klaus Streicher and the Commander of the German Forces in the Kurdistan Region (Photo: Ministry of Peshmerga/Twitter).

Kurdistan Klaus Streicher German Consulate in Erbil Shoresh Ismail

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The German Consulate in Erbil on Tuesday in a meeting with the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail commended the ruling Kurdish parties for agreeing to the return of the Peshmerga Minister after an extended leave of absence.

We commend PUK and KDP for agreeing on the return of HE Shoresh Ismail as Minister @KRG_MOPE . Introducing the new commander of the 🇩🇪 OIR Contingent @Bw_Einsatz, 🇩🇪 Consul General Klaus Streicher underlined the importance of achieving progress with Peshmerga reform. pic.twitter.com/gvdTxeSNXE
— German Consulate Erbil (@GermanyInKRI) December 5, 2023

“We commend PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) for agreeing on the return of HE Shoresh Ismail as Minister,” Consulate General of Germany in Erbil said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Moreover, the German Consul General Klaus Streicher underlined the importance of achieving progress with Peshmerga reform.

The @KRG_MOPE Minister received the German Gen Consul & the Commander of the #German Forces in #IKR, in the meeting which was attended by the Deputy Minister & the Chief of Staff, the guest delegation expressed their pleasure for the return of the MOP Minister to his duty. pic.twitter.com/bqeX4HWS7D
— Ministry of Peshmerga (@KRG_MOPE) December 5, 2023

Furthermore, the Ministry of Peshmerga in a tweet said that during the meeting, the German “delegation expressed their pleasure for the return of the MOP Minister to his duty.”

Kurdistan Region Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shorish Ismael on Nov. 27 officially returned back to the office after over a year of absence reportedly caused by internal disputes with the PUK.

During his absence there has been pressure on the ruling Kurdish parties to appoint a replacement minister, yet the US-led Coalition insisted on Mr. Ismael’s return.

Earlier in July, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul had called for the return of the Peshmerga minister to the office.