Al-Sudani: We Established a Strategic Partnership with Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes the Iraqi prime minister in Berlin on Friday. (AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes the Iraqi prime minister in Berlin on Friday. (AP)
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Al-Sudani: We Established a Strategic Partnership with Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes the Iraqi prime minister in Berlin on Friday. (AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes the Iraqi prime minister in Berlin on Friday. (AP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani has called on German companies to invest in the energy sector in Iraq, especially in oil, gas and electricity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for his part, revealed on Friday ongoing talks with the Iraqi government over the possibility of importing natural gas from the oil-rich country, at a time when Berlin is seeking to diversify energy sources after the decline in fossil fuel imports from Russia.

During a press conference with Scholz in Berlin, Sudani said that his cabinet had signed a memorandum of understanding with the German energy giant Siemens to increase energy production, improve its transportation and reduce waste, as well as maintain energy stability.

“Our meeting… established the foundations for a strategic relationship and partnership between Iraq and Germany... Germany has provided support to Iraq in the military field, and there are advisory teams to train Iraqi forces. All of these are appreciated, as well as assistance in the liberated areas.”

The Iraqi premier noted that his government “appreciates Germany’s role in supporting Iraq in confronting terrorism.”

He added: “The Iraqi government is serious about fighting corruption and advancing economic reform, and we presented to the German side investment opportunities in the fields of gas associated with oil production, as well as natural gas, petrochemicals, health, agriculture and industry.”

Scholz, for his part, said that Germany was in talks with the Iraqi government over the possibility of importing natural gas from Iraq, as Berlin is seeking to diversify energy sources after the decline in imports of fossil fuels from Russia.

He added: “We also talked about possible gas shipments to Germany, and we agreed to stay in close contact.”

The German chancellor did not give details about the volume of gas that his country hopes to import from Iraq.

Sudani also met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. A statement by the Iraqi premier’s office stated that the meeting discussed bilateral relations and a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

During the talks with representatives of German companies at the start of his visit to Germany on Thursday, the prime minister expressed Iraq’s confidence in German companies, highly valuing their expertise, efficiency and global reputation.

Sudani invited “German companies to invest in Iraq in various fields, especially in renewable energy, gas and petrochemical projects,” and to support the Iraqi government’s plan to develop the energy and electricity sector.



International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Meets with Syrian Leader in Damascus

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan in Damascus on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan in Damascus on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
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International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Meets with Syrian Leader in Damascus

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan in Damascus on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan in Damascus on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)

The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan made an unannounced visit Friday to Damascus to confer with the leader of Syria’s de facto government on how to ensure accountability for alleged crimes committed in the country.

Khan's office said he visited at the invitation of Syria’s transitional government. He met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s new administration and the foreign minister to discuss options for justice in The Hague for victims of the country's civil war, which has left more than half a million dead and more than six million people displaced.

Assad, who fled to Russia in December, waged an oppressive campaign against anyone who opposed him during his more than two decades in power.

Rights groups estimate at least 150,000 people went missing after anti-government protests began in 2011, most vanishing into Assad’s prison network. Many of them were killed, either in mass executions or from torture and prison conditions. The exact number remains unknown.

The global chemical weapons watchdog found Syrian forces were responsible for multiple attacks using chlorine gas and other banned substances against civilians.

Other groups have also been accused of human rights violations and war crimes during the country’s civil war.

The new authorities have called for members of the Assad regime to be brought to justice. It is unclear how exactly that would work at this stage.

Syria is not a member of the ICC, which has left the court without the ability to investigate the war. In 2014, Russia and China blocked a referral by the United Nations Security Council which would have given the court jurisdiction. Similar referrals were made for Sudan and Libya.

Khan's visit comes after a trip to Damascus last month by the UN organization assisting in investigating the most serious crimes in Syria. The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria was created to assist in evidence-gathering and prosecution of individuals responsible for possible war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide since Syria’s civil war began in 2011.

The group's head, Robert Petit, highlighted the urgency of preserving documents and other evidence before they are lost.