Germany says Iraq soon safe for refugees’ return

Germany’s development minister is heading to a conference on Iraq reconstruction in Kuwait with the message that the country is growing safe enough that refugees should start to consider moving home from Europe.

Gerd Mueller says in a statement that with recent victories over the Islamic State extremist group, Germany is committed to help rebuild destroyed villages and cities in order to create the “conditions for the Iraqi refugees in Germany to return to their homeland.”

He says “the security situation is already allowing the return of internally displaced persons.”

Mueller says he will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to discuss the “possibility of closer cooperation for the return of refugees from Germany” and Berlin’s “expectations.”

He says the impetus for reconstruction needs to come from the Iraqi government.

— AP