President Barzani, German Ambassador discuss KRG cabinet formation, bilateral ties

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday received the German Ambassador to Iraq Christiane Hohmann to discuss bilateral ties and the formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet.

“The two sides discussed the enhancement of Germany’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in all areas,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

“They further exchanged views on the formation of the upcoming Kurdistan Regional Government,” the statement added.

The Kurdistan Region held delayed parliamentary elections in October. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) came out on top, securing 39 spots in the 100-member legislature. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) came in second with 23 seats. Since no single party won a majority, a governing coalition will need to be formed, as has traditionally been the case.

Negotiations between the KDP and PUK have made “positive steps and good progress,” according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday by both parties’ negotiation delegations.

During their Tuesday meeting, President Barzani and Ambassador Hohmann also emphasized the importance of “maintaining peace and stability in the region and resolving conflicts peacefully.”

“They discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, the threat of terrorism and the ongoing threat of [the Islamic State] ISIS” in the region.

President Barzani’s meeting with the German ambassador follows a previous meeting he held in January with another top German official, Tobias Lindner, who serves as the Minister of State at Germany's Federal Foreign Office.

During that meeting, President Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for Germany’s ongoing military, political, and humanitarian support to both Erbil and Baghdad, and reaffirmed the Region’s commitment to strengthening ties with Berlin.

Germany maintains military bases in both Baghdad and Erbil, where its forces have played a key role as part of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, established in 2014 after the group seized large territories across Iraq and Syria.

President Barzani, German Ambassador discuss KRG cabinet formation, bilateral ties

Turkish envoy, PUK leader hold rare talks as ties thaw

French school in Kurdistan Region gains international accreditation

Peshmerga seeks new deal with US-led coalition as unification nears final stages

Related Articles

Turkish envoy, PUK leader hold rare talks as ties thaw

French school in Kurdistan Region gains international accreditation

Peshmerga seeks new deal with US-led coalition as unification nears final stages