President Masoud Barzani, a lifelong Peshmerga, stood alongside veteran comrades in Paris on Friday for a historic ceremony dedicating a park and a street in the French capital to the Peshmerga forces. The event served as a profound international tribute to the decades of Kurdish struggle and sacrifice.

President Barzani led a delegation of veteran Peshmerga representatives to unveil a commemorative plaque within the renowned Parc André-Citroën. His presence at the dignified ceremony marked a significant milestone in the eighty-year history of the Peshmerga, underscoring their enduring legacy on the world stage.

As reported by Paris Presse, the event was more than a ceremonial naming; it was a powerful affirmation of the deep friendship between the French and Kurdish peoples. The news outlet noted that the Peshmerga force "symbolizes the sacrifice and struggle of the Kurdish people for freedom and their legitimate rights."

Hundreds of guests, including numerous political and academic figures from France and across Europe, attended the ceremony, reflecting the broad support the Peshmerga have earned internationally.

The report highlighted the "very strong relationship" between Paris and Erbil, recalling the 2019 visit of the Mayor of Paris to the Kurdistan Region's capital to sign a memorandum of friendship. It also noted Paris's pride in hosting the prestigious Kurdish Institute for the past 40 years, a vital hub for Kurdish culture in Europe.

The unveiling of the Peshmerga plaque in a global capital like Paris was described as an event that "holds great meaning and purpose," serving as a powerful international acknowledgment of the unique philosophy and profound legacy of the Peshmerga.

A Bond Forged in History and Mutual Respect

The friendship between the Kurds and the French, which President Barzani has helped cultivate, is the product of a long historical relationship fortified by shared goals. France has consistently extended assistance to the Kurds in times of hardship.

This bond was famously personified by Mrs. Danielle Mitterrand, wife of former French President François Mitterrand. During the mass Kurdish exodus in 1991, she visited the borders of the Kurdistan Region, witnessing the humanitarian catastrophe and becoming a powerful advocate for the Kurdish cause.

French support has been steadfast. In 1988, during the Anfal genocide, France welcomed a thousand Kurdish refugees. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France played a key role in passing Resolution 688 in 1991, which established a no-fly zone and a safe haven for Kurds in northern Iraq.

This diplomatic relationship strengthened with the opening of the French consulate in Erbil in 2008. High-level visits have been a constant feature, with President Barzani meeting multiple French presidents, including Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron, in both Paris and Erbil.

During the critical war against ISIS from 2014 to 2017, France provided vital military and humanitarian assistance to the Peshmerga and the Kurdistan Region. This support continued politically in 2017 when a visit to Paris by then-Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani was instrumental in breaking an international embargo following the Kurdistan Region's independence referendum.

The steady engagement continues, with recent visits by French Foreign Ministers and a warm reception for President Macron in Erbil in 2021. Both Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and President Nechirvan Barzani have held meetings with President Macron at the Élysée Palace.