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Iraq and Germany discuss economic ties
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday for talks aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
- AP
- Published: 13:33 July 22, 2008
Berlin: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday for talks aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
Germany was a vehement opponent to the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq to depose Saddam Hussain, but has since helped the nation try to rebuild its security forces and develop its economy.
Merkel hopes to use the face-to-face with Al Maliki to get a firsthand idea of what he expects from European countries, and also to help rekindle the traditional ties between Baghdad and Berlin, her spokesman Thomas Steg said ahead of the visit.
German businesses see tremendous potential in Iraq, said Axel Nitschke, foreign business chief of the German Industry and Trade Association DIHK.
Even though the situation in Iraq has calmed of late, Nitschke warned it remained dangerous. "The risk for German employees to work there is still very high," he said.
Economy Minister Michael Glos became the first German minister to visit Iraq since the invasion with a surprise trip earlier this month to meet with officials there to talk about economic ties.
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