Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki called for German companies to take a greater interest in his country. Despite a German-Iraqi still being held hostage, the security situation in Iraq has dramatically improved, he said. Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the German mass-market daily Bild on Tuesday, Feb. 17, that it would be "excellent if (German firms) would take on a greater role in the reconstruction" of his country, adding that it was "the perfect time for foreign investment" in Iraq. He said his country wants to "build good relationships and true friendship with Germany and Europe," and added that he was "hoping for political as well as economic cooperation." Germany has contributed to the training and equipping of the Iraqi army and police forces, and, al-Maliki said, German companies have made agreements with the Iraqi government to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq's rail network.
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the German mass-market daily Bild on Tuesday, Feb. 17, that it would be "excellent if (German firms) would take on a greater role in the reconstruction" of his country, adding that it was "the perfect time for foreign investment" in Iraq.
He said his country wants to "build good relationships and true friendship with Germany and Europe," and added that he was "hoping for political as well as economic cooperation."
Germany has contributed to the training and equipping of the Iraqi army and police forces, and, al-Maliki said, German companies have made agreements with the Iraqi government to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq's rail network.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier landed in Baghdad on Tuesday for the first visit to Iraq by a German foreign minister in 22 years. The gesture underscores a significant shift in Germany's policies toward the war-torn country. In the end, the only real surprise was the timing: On Tuesday morning, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier landed at the Baghdad International Airport. SPIEGEL reported back in November that Steinmeier, who is running against Chancellor Angela Merkel in general elections scheduled for September, was interested in visiting the Iraqi capital. And his objective is clear: He wants to put an end once and for all to the extended German-American quarrel regarding the Iraq War. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday, where he was greeted by his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari. Steinmeier's plane -- a Transall belonging to the German military -- touched down at 9:15 a.m., arriving from Amman, Jordan where he had spent the night. It was the first Iraq visit by a German foreign minister in 22 years. The foreign minister isn't alone. Along with the standard team of diplomats and journalists, Steinmeier is accompanied by veteran members of the German parliament Otto Schily and Peter Gauweiler along with a handful of business representatives. An impressive team of security personnel also made the trip.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier landed in Baghdad on Tuesday for the first visit to Iraq by a German foreign minister in 22 years. The gesture underscores a significant shift in Germany's policies toward the war-torn country.
In the end, the only real surprise was the timing: On Tuesday morning, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier landed at the Baghdad International Airport. SPIEGEL reported back in November that Steinmeier, who is running against Chancellor Angela Merkel in general elections scheduled for September, was interested in visiting the Iraqi capital. And his objective is clear: He wants to put an end once and for all to the extended German-American quarrel regarding the Iraq War.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday, where he was greeted by his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari. Steinmeier's plane -- a Transall belonging to the German military -- touched down at 9:15 a.m., arriving from Amman, Jordan where he had spent the night. It was the first Iraq visit by a German foreign minister in 22 years.
The foreign minister isn't alone. Along with the standard team of diplomats and journalists, Steinmeier is accompanied by veteran members of the German parliament Otto Schily and Peter Gauweiler along with a handful of business representatives. An impressive team of security personnel also made the trip.
