President Barzani praises friendship with Macron in Paris

Shafaq News/ French President Emmanuel Macron received Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday, according to an official statement.

During the meeting, Barzani thanked France and Macron for “their continued support of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region” and reaffirmed his government’s desire to deepen cooperation with Paris. The leaders reviewed opportunities to expand engagement across economic, political, and security sectors.

Both sides emphasized the importance of preserving stability in Iraq amid broader regional tensions. “Maintaining peace and stability in Iraq is vital to shielding the country from regional unrest,” the statement read.

Macron and Barzani also exchanged views on the conflict in Syria, the threat of terrorism, and the ongoing risk posed by ISIS. They underscored the need to protect the rights of Kurds and other communities in Syria and called for continued dialogue and mutual understanding as key to resolving regional conflicts.

It was a great privilege to be at the Élysée today to meet my dear friend, President @EmmanuelMacron. Our relationship with France is very special and continues to grow stronger.We exchanged views on further deepening ties between France, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, and…

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) April 14, 2025