Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Monday at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, discussed opportunities for strengthening France’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

This marks the fifth official visit of President Nechirvan Barzani to France.

“It was a great privilege to be at the Elysee today to meet my dear friend, President @EmmanuelMacron,” President Nechirvan Barzani posted on X. “Our relationship with France is very special and continues to grow stronger.”

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“We exchanged views on further deepening ties between France, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, and discussed key regional issues,” he stated.

“I thanked President Macron for his steadfast support for the Kurdistan Region and his important role in promoting regional stability.”

According to a readout from the Kurdistan Region Presidency, both presidents also reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to expanding ties across various sectors and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Iraq to help shield the country from regional unrest.

They also exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East, the situation in Syria, the ongoing threat of terrorism, and the challenges posed by ISIS. 

The two leaders also stressed the importance of protecting the rights of Kurds and other communities in Syria, underscoring the critical role of dialogue and mutual understanding in achieving peaceful solutions to regional conflicts.

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The Kurdistan Region and France have close ties. In 2008, France became one of the first countries to open a diplomatic mission in Erbil.

Moreover, France has supported the peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS since 2014. France also played a crucial role in raising global awareness of Saddam Hussein’s persecution of Kurds in 1991, leading to the creation of a no-fly zone over the Kurdistan Region.