Journal # German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier makes a surprise visit to Iraq # (17.02.2009) 17

Frank Walter Steinmeier is in Baghdad on the fist visit to the Iraqi capital by a German foreign minister in more than 20 years. Steinmeier held talks with Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, who spoke of a revival of relations between the two countries. The visit is also being seen as a sign of Germany's support for the new US administration and its plans to accelerate a troop withdrawal. Germany was one of the main opponents of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.