Germany: Berlin to extend military mandate against IS - FM Spokesperson

W/S Federal Press Conference in Berlin
M/S Host welcomes the spokespeople
M/S Audience
SOT Ulrike Demmer, Government Deputy Spokesperson (German): "IS keeps claiming former controlled areas and beyond and directs its actions to regain strength and to extend its influence.''
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SOT Ulrike Demmer, Government Deputy Spokesperson (German): "IS has been and is still able and willing to perpetrate attacks in Syria, Iraq and Europe. Therefore it is still a threat and that is why we extended this mandate.''
W/S Spokespeople and journalists during the press conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT Maria Adebahr, Spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry (German): "In the opinion of the Federal government, this mandate, which we give to the Bundestag and for which the Federal government is asking or is promoting for an approval, is a contribution, so that IS cannot regain strength there and that Iraq has a chance for a democratic, peaceful future. And this is a long road ahead. For this, we see good approaches with the new government, but it is not finished or borne.''
M/S Audience *CUTAWAY*
SOT Maria Adebahr, Spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry (German): "For almost a whole year, since the last meeting of the small group in New York during the UN General Assembly, we talk about needing a constitutional committee in Syria, to put on the tracks, to keep alive, to advance the political process, which UN special envoy Petersen attempts, to bring forth this political process and this constitutional committee is an essential component.''
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SOT Maria Adebahr, Spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry (German): "And yes, it seems the three Presidents [Turkey's Recep Tayep Erdogan, Russia's Vladimir Putin Iran's and Hassan Rouhani] were successful to agree on the last missing names. Of course this needs to be confirmed by the UN and they need to be supported by the UN. That is why we want to see if this agreement will prevail.''
W/S Journalists and spokespeople during the press conference *CUTAWAY*
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SOT Maria Adebahr, Spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry (German): "I want to say again what the Foreign Minister has said during his latest visit to Moscow, that for us it is important that every party and every group can experience their freedom of speech, even in Russia, and that it is an important matter for us, that the regional election was able to take place peacefully, orderly and following the laws. And it is the same, these basic principles should be conducted in hindsight to this regional election.''
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C/U Part of the logo 'Federal Press Conference'
W/S Journalists at Federal Press Conference
SCRIPT
The German government announced that it would extend its military mandate for participation in the coalition against the so-called Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) until October 2020, as reported by the Government Deputy Spokesperson Ulrike Demmer during the weekly Federal Press Conference in Berlin, Wednesday. The current mandate ends on October 31, 2019.
Demmer said that IS is still active, trying to regain strength and influence in Iraq and Syria and is able to perpetrate attacks in the region as well as in Europe.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Adebahr added, that this mandate is important in supporting Iraq in its attempt for a "democratic, peaceful future," conceding that it will be a long road ahead
Adebahr also commented on the latest Astana meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayep Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. She added that it seems an agreement has been reached between the three, which needs the approval of the United Nations.
When asked about the sentencing of Russian opposition members after the regional election, Adebahr said it is important for the German government that every party and every group can experience their freedom of speech, even in Russia and that the regional election was taking place peacefully, orderly and following the laws.
The Federal Press Conference takes place three times a week in Berlin with Spokespeople from the government and the 16 ministries present.