Deputy PM Qubad Talabani meets with German Ambassador to Iraq

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani today met with the outgoing German Ambassador to Iraq, Ole Diehl, and the German Consul in Erbil, Klemens Semtner, to discuss ways to improve relations between the Kurdistan Region and Germany.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani, joined by Daban Shadala, the Deputy Head of the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations, underscored the many opportunities that exist for greater cooperation across all sectors between Germany and the Kurdistan Region. This includes the sharing of expertise and best practices as the KRG implements sweeping governmental and economic reforms, notably in the fields of agriculture and industry.

The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the KRG will continue to have an ongoing dialogue with Baghdad to ensure a peaceful resolution to outstanding issues and to facilitate the implementation of the 2021 federal budget bill.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged Germany and the international community to help Iraq ensure conditions on the ground are met for free and fair elections to maintain stability in the country. Both sides agreed that elections held on time and in a transparent manner are critical to maintain the integrity of the democratic process in Iraq.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani thanked Ambassador Diehl for his work building bridges between Germany and Iraq and the Kurdistan Region during his tenure, and hoped the work will have an enduring legacy.