Germany ties Iraq aid to peaceful resolution of conflict with Kurds

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Germany on Monday said its continued support for Iraq and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government was contingent on peaceful efforts by both sides to resolve their differences.

ROJI KURD: Germany wants to continue support for Iraq and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government, but that aid depends on peaceful efforts to solve the conflict between the two sides, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday.

“Our support is for Iraq as a unified state,” Gabriel told reporters after meeting with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzan in Berlin. “We want to continue that, but the precondition is that Iraq solves its internal conflicts peacefully and democratically, and that we find a way out of the tense situation we are in now.”

Barzani underscored his region’s determination to work with the central government in Baghdad, and called on Germany to play a bigger role in mediating the conflict.

Gabriel noted that Germany had warned the Kurdish region against holding the Sept. 25 referendum, in which Iraqi Kurds voted overwhelmingly to break away from Iraq, and said the goal was to restore dialogue between the two sides.

The Kurdish vote was rejected by Baghdad and triggered an Iraqi military offensive that recaptured disputed areas of the north from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

Gabriel said Berlin would push the government in Baghdad to respond to offers of dialogue by the KRG.

Barzani urged Germany to “play a stronger role in bringing us together”.

Barzani also thanked Germany for supporting his region’s fight against Islamic State, and training Peshmerga fighters.

The German government has provided more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in humanitarian, development and stabilization aid to Iraq since 2014, making it one of the biggest international donors.

 

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