Germany's foreign minister met with top Iraqi leaders in Baghdad on Tuesday. Frank-Walter Steinmeier's visit — the first by a German foreign minister since 1987 — comes following a similar trip by French President Nicolas Sarkozy a week ago.
"The Iraqi government in the past months has achieved important successes in the political stabilization of the country," Steinmeier told reporters in Berlin before departing. "My trip demonstrates that we want to support this new Iraq on its path to democratic consolidation and a peaceful balance between religions and ethnicities."
Steinmeier, who is traveling with representatives from German companies and cultural institutions, met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Tuesday. According to the AP, he was also planning to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, the German Foreign Ministry said.
One of Germany's initiatives to improve relations with Iraq will be to establish an economic office in Baghdad, with a branch in the northern city of Irbil, said the German Economic Ministry. "The office will contribute to reviving the once-intensive economic relations between Germany and Iraq," Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said in a statement. "The office also will serve to overcome the economic consequences of the war in Iraq and contribute to the country's economic rebuilding."
Steinmeier will make concrete proposals to improve ties with Iraq, including the opening of an economic office in Baghdad, the ministry said.
