President Nechirvan Barzani and his delegation held a meeting with France’s Defense Minister Mr. Sébastien Lecornu in Paris on Friday evening. The President expressed his gratitude for France’s support and military assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He acknowledged the great contribution and sacrifices made by French forces in the international coalition against ISIS. President Barzani also extended his condolences to the families of the three French soldiers who recently lost their lives in Iraq.

Minister Lecornu, in turn, expressed appreciation for the role and sacrifices of the Peshmerga in defeating ISIS and fighting terrorism. He emphasized the commitment and continuity of military support and expressed readiness to increase joint cooperation within the framework of the strategic agreement between Iraq and France in the military and security fields.

The meeting, attended by the Chief of Staff of the French army and other military officials, focused on discussing the latest developments in the tense situation in the Middle East. Both sides stressed the importance of efforts to prevent the escalation of conflict and agreed that Iraq and the countries in the region should not be drawn into the ongoing fighting.

Additionally, the progress of cooperation between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army was discussed, along with the threats posed by ISIS to the peace and stability of Iraq and Syria. Several other issues of mutual importance were also addressed.

Following the meeting, the President expressed his gratitude to France for its support and cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in a message written in the ministry’s guest book.