PM Masrour Barzani discusses security, bilateral ties with German Defense Minister in Munich

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met on Friday with Germany’s Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer at the Munich Security Conference.

During the meeting, both sides discussed political and security developments in Iraq, as well as ties between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the central government in Germany, a statement on the KRG website read.

On her side, Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer praised the Kurdistan Region’s stability and security, adding that Germany would continue to provide aid and training to the Peshmerga forces for being an effective force in fighting terrorism in the region, the statement continued.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Germany for its support and aid to the Peshmerga, highlighting Berlin as an essential actor in the Global Coalition against the so-called Islamic State, noting that the extremist group remains a threat to stability and security in Iraq and the world.

Elsewhere, on Saturday, Prime Minister Barzani discussed political developments in Iraq, and ways to further strengthen ties between Germany and Kurdistan with a parliamentarian delegation from the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

During the meeting, the German parliament members praised the Kurdistan Region’s role as a factor of stability and security in Iraq and the region, reaffirming their support toward Peshmerga in the fight against the Islamic State, a separate KRG statement read.

On his side, Prime Minister Barzani extended his thanks for Germany’s assistance to the Kurdistan Region and especially to the Peshmerga forces.

The Kurdish leader also underlined the many economic opportunities for investment available in the Kurdistan Region, and the KRG’s efforts in diversifying Kurdistan’s economy according to its capacities and needs. 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany