KRG hails French President’s visit as historic

The Kurdistan Regional Government Spokesperson hails French President’s “historic” visit to the Kurdistan Region, as President François Hollande became the first foreign head of state to visit Kurdistan twice during his tenure.

Minister Safeen Dizayee said that President Hollande’s visit underlines France’s continuous support to the Kurdistan Region, especially in the fight against the so-called Islamic State terror group.

He said that the Kurdistan Regional Government highly values France’s military, diplomatic and humanitarian support to the Kurdistan Region.

The French leader arrived in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region, on Monday and met with leaders of the Region.

In an official ceremony, the Kurdistan Region President, Prime Minister and other senior officials greeted French President upon his arrival at Erbil International airport.

Later, President Massoud Barzani and President Hollande visited the front lines of the war against ISIS to meet Kurdish military forces, the Peshmergas, and observed the gains made in the fight against terror.

During a press conference back in Erbil, French President said that without the sacrifice and heroism of the Peshmergas, the defeat of ISIS was impossible. President Hollande also praised the Kurdistan Region for sheltering a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, and protecting various ethnic and religious groups.

French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian and a number of senior military and public officials accompanied President Hollande in his visit to Erbil.

The French leader first visited Kurdistan in September of 2014, when ISIS terrorists were attacking different parts of Kurdistan.