UAE and Germany lead anti-ISIL coalition meeting in Abu Dhabi

Representatives from Iraq and 28 countries met to discuss ways to support the Iraqi government against ISIL, in a meeting led by the UAE and Germany.

ABU DHABI // The UAE and Germany led the second meeting of a working group on the global coalition against ISIL in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Representatives from Iraq and 28 countries as well as organisations met to discuss ways the coalition can support the Iraqi government’s efforts to provide security and access to public services in areas liberated from ISIL, the state news agency, Wam, reported on Wednesday.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, opened the meeting, emphasising the group’s strong support for Iraq.

The group is one of five coalition working groups coordinating activities including military support, counter-finance, counter-messaging and efforts to stem the flow of foreign fighters.

Faris Al Mazrouei, Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs, and Dr Clemens von Goetze, Director-General for Africa, Asia, Latin America, Near and Middle East of the German Federal Foreign Office, also helped lead working sessions of the meeting.

Other members of the group are Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Arab League, the European Union and the UN.