Foreign policy

Berlin wants a stable Iraq

Premier al-Abadi speaks at a Meeting with the Chancellor, from the “last Chapter” of the liberation from IS. Germany says a 500-million-loan to, because Baghdad oil revenues are dramatically decreased.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi looks great successes of his government in the fight against the IS. After the recapture of the city of Ramadi in late December last year, am now the liberation Mossuls on the agenda, said al-Abadi after a Meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. He announced that this week, the first Iraqi units to the East of the drive IS controlled nordirakischen city would reach. At the beginning of the week had military establishments in Iraq informed that the troops in the 70 kilometers Southeast of Mosul nearby military base at Machmur would be reinforced. The first goal was, IS-Nachschubwege cut off.

You have to have the last Chapter in the liberation of Iraq from the IS pitched, said al-Abadi in Berlin.16 of the total of 19 provinces in his country were already “safe regions”. He called on German entrepreneurs in Iraq to invest and thanked for the help of the Federal government in stabilizing the country.

500 million loan for Baghdad

Berlin said Baghdad a loan of 500 million Euro, over whose use the government in Baghdad to decide. Important was the restoration of the infrastructure in the IS liberated areas, said Angela Merkel. So should also be prevented that even more Iraqis to leave their country. On the question of an Iraqi journalists, whether Germany also with the liberation of Mossuls will help, pointed out that Chancellor Merkel only on the long ongoing training of Peschmerga fighters and weapon supplies in Northern Iraq. They also want to aid in the removal of booby traps in by IS the abandoned areas, thus the return of the inhabitants was possible.

Peschmerga fighters near Erbil

The economic situation of the erdölreichen country was difficult, agreed Merkel and al-Abadi agreed. The Iraqi state achieved 90 percent of its revenue from Erdölverkäufen. However, the proceeds from this cheat only 15 percent in comparison with those of two years ago, said of the Iraqis. The economic reconstruction of the country would have the G-7 countries to play a major role, Merkel stressed.

“The future of the Iraqis is in the home”

The Chancellor made it clear that Germany in support of Iraq in the fight against root causes for migration in view. Therefore, should development cooperation be strengthened. The support of refugee camps and aid agencies, the construction of schools and the project “Food&Cash for Work”, the world food programme should, from the North to the whole of Iraq to be extended. It was important also, the misinformation about the realities in Germany to uncover, to smugglers of human beings in the craft.

Rückkehrwillige Iraqi refugees at the airport Tegel

Iraqis – after Syrians – currently the second-largest group of refugees coming to Germany. Alone in January were almost 19 000 Iraqis on the German border is registered. In recent times traveled, however, a growing number of Iraqis back to their homeland because they have their expectations in Germany are not met saw.

The Iraqi Premier said, the correct solution to the refugee crisis be it in their home countries, even to help. No country wants its middle class and its citizens lose. Iraq had great potential and resources. Both Merkel as well as al-Abadi appealed against a possible secession of the Kurdengebiete of the Central government in Baghdad.