Iraqi PM to visit Germany, Italy, meet pope

BAGHDAD-Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki flies to Europe this week to meet leaders in Germany and Italy, woo businessmen and hold talks with Pope Benedict.The trip builds on a flurry of diplomatic activity in the past month as regional countries have moved to upgrade ties with Baghdad, write off debts and talk about rebuilding Iraq.Maliki will visit Germany from July 21-23 and Italy from July 24-25.With violence at its lowest since early 2004, Maliki is expected to push the message that Iraq has emerged from civil war and is now throwing out the welcome mat for investment."Maliki wants ... to enhance Iraq's legitimacy and use the improved security to kickstart diplomatic and economic ties," said Hashim Hassan, a lecturer in media at Baghdad University.German Economy Minister Michael Glos, who this month became the first German cabinet minister to visit Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, said Iraq was "ripe" for investment."It seems to me that (Maliki) has to a large extent managed to push back the terrorists with his own security forces, across all ethnic groups," Glos told the Die Welt daily last week.Europe is especially interested in Iraq's energy potential.
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