GERMANY WILL PARTICIPATE IN INT'L COMPACT WITH

UNCLAS BERLIN 000615 SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/I/ECON KEVIN TAECKER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ EAID ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PREL GM SUBJECT: GERMANY WILL PARTICIPATE IN INT'L COMPACT WITH IRAQ MINISTERIAL REF: STATE 43799 ¶1. (U) POLOFF delivered Ref A points to MFA Iraq Desk Director Dr. Ruediger Lotz May 7. Lotz noted that Germany would again participate in the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) Ministerial in Stockholm. Due to scheduling reasons, FM Steinmeier will likely not attend, but State Secretary Silberberg will lead the German delegation. ¶2. (SBU) Lotz noted that Germany shares similar goals with the U.S. and is prepared to provide additional technical expertise to Iraq if requested. He continued that a positive step would be if Iraq were to arrive at the conference ready to provide input and information to the international community regarding specific programs and economic development projects, allowing interested partners to respond positively. ¶3. (SBU) Lotz highlighted the success of the opening of the German Embassy Field Office in Erbil and his hopes to expand that office to a full consulate in the future. He also expressed interest in exploring the option of starting a sister city or brother university program between German and Iraqi institutions. TIMKEN JR