German FM in Baghdad to meet officials

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday morning arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and is expected to meet with the Iraqi president and prime minister later today, according to a source from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. “Talks will be held between Steinmeier and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari,” Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Steinmeier is leading a large delegation that included businessmen, economists and state officials,” Abbawi explained. “The German minister is also expected to visit the Kurdistan region to open a consulate in Arbil,” he added. The visit is the first by a high-ranking German official since 2003. SS (P) 1