President Masoud Barzani received French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Wednesday evening in Salahaddin.

The meeting was also attended by Patrick Durel, French Ambassador to Iraq, and Jean Brami, French Consul in Erbil. Minister Barrot expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and reaffirmed the strong ties and enduring friendship between the people of Kurdistan and France. President Barzani, in turn, thanked France for its continued support to the people of Kurdistan during times of hardship.

The discussion covered the political situation in the Kurdistan Region, including the urgent need to form a new cabinet. The two sides also reviewed relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, and regional developments, particularly in Syria.

On the Syrian context, both parties emphasized the importance of dialogue, mediation, and unity among Kurdish political groups. Concerning Turkey, President Barzani welcomed recent steps toward a peaceful resolution and reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s support for efforts to advance the peace process.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Barrot extended an official invitation to President Barzani to visit Paris and attend the dedication ceremony of a site in a Parisian park commemorating the sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism.