Germany-Iraq-Al-Maliki
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is to arrive Tuesday in Berlin for political and economic talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, a German official said here Friday.

Talking to the media, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhlem said that the Iraqi prime minister would be received by Merkel with full military honors.

The meeting will focus on the situation in the region, the state of bilateral ties and economic question, he added.

The visit by the Iraqi prime minister is to show German "support for the al-Maliki government on its path towards political stability in Iraq," Wilhelm stressed.

It is al-Maliki's first trip to Germany since becoming Iraqi prime minister.

Last week, German Economy Minister Michael Glos held talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad, becoming the first German cabinet minister to visit the war-stricken Arab country since the US-led war in March 2003.

Merkel had reiterated earlier her "elementary interest" in the stabilization process as well as political and economic development of the Arab country.

While Germany had strongly opposed the illegal US invasion of Iraq in 2003, it has supported international reconstruction and stabilization efforts in the Mideast country.

Berlin has also been involved in the training of hundreds of new Iraqi security forces in the United Arab Emirates over the past years.

Pressured by the US, Germany also agreed to write off billions of euros in Iraqi debts.