President Barzani, French FM discuss regional issues in Erbil

Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot discussed developments in Kurdistan, Iraq, and the region.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Erbil, Barzani expressed appreciation for France’s continued support, describing the talks as “important and fruitful, particularly regarding relations between France and both the Region and Iraq.”

“We highly value our historic ties with France and reaffirm our commitment to strengthening and expanding bilateral relations across various sectors, especially in security, economic, and cultural cooperation,” Barzani stressed. “The Region looks forward to advancing this partnership in pursuit of greater regional stability and security.”

For his part, Barrot called the trip a reflection of the strong friendship between the Kurdish and French peoples. “Our relations became even stronger during the war against ISIS, when our forces fought alongside Kurdish forces,” he emphasized, reaffirming his country’s support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Barrot praised the bravery and sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces, stressing that peace and development in the Middle East cannot be achieved "without ensuring pluralism and respect for freedoms."

He affirmed that his country will continue supporting dialogue and reconciliation among Kurdish factions in Syria, reiterating "France’s support for General Mazloum Abdi and Kurdish political forces in their efforts to reach a comprehensive and lasting solution that safeguards Kurdish rights and paves the way for continued efforts against terrorism."

Earlier on Wednesday, Barrot arrived in Erbil, where he was welcomed by Safeen Dizayee, after holding a joint press conference with Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein.