Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received former President of France François Hollande. The meeting was also attended by Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

President Hollande gave a briefing on his visit to Mosul and his participation in the Shifa Gardi International Award Ceremony.

He recalled his earlier visits during the fight against ISIS and visiting the frontlines with President Masoud Barzani.

He praised the Kurdistan Regional Government and Peshmerga forces for protecting, accommodating, and offering assistance to a large number of displaced people. He also stressed the importance of coordination between the international community, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region to provide essential services to devastated areas.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked President Hollande and France for continued support to the Kurdistan Region, especially during difficult times. He highly valued the role of France in assisting the lifting of the blockade on the Kurdistan Region, imposed by Baghdad after the independence referendum, in the end of 2017. He also highlighted progress in relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad toward resolving outstanding issues through negotiation.

He reaffirmed KRG’s support to Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. Further, he pointed to current talks on planning coordination between the Iraqi army and Peshmerga forces in confronting the threats of reemergence of terrorism.