Kurdistan
France's Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durel speaking to Rudaw on June 12, 2024. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - France's Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durel on Wednesday visited the Danielle Mitterrand French School of Erbil and announced that its graduates can study abroad. He described the school as the “symbol” of the “strong” ties between Erbil and Paris.
The French school was established in 2009 and named after Danielle Mitterrand, first lady of France from 1981 to 1995.
“This school is the symbol of the strong relations between France and the Kurdistan Region in all fields. But today the subject is related to education and culture. This school is an excellent framework,” Durel told Rudaw’s Dilnya Rahman on Wednesday after visiting the school.
He added that the graduates of the school are taught Kurdish, English and French languages and will have the opportunity to study abroad.
“The school issues international certificates to its students. This will allow them to go abroad, such as France, European countries, Canada, US, or any other country they choose. However, I hope they choose France,” the top diplomat noted.
He thanked Kurdish authorities for assisting the school.
The school says on its website that it was established for the purpose of improving education in Kurdistan.”
The relationship between the Kurds and France goes back to the 1980s. Mitterrand advocated for Kurds suffering under the regime of Saddam Hussein and was instrumental in campaigning for the no-fly zone that allowed the Kurdistan Region to develop its current autonomy. She was affectionately known as the “Mother of Kurds”, and inaugurated the first Kurdish parliament in 1992.
The French school was established in 2009 and named after Danielle Mitterrand, first lady of France from 1981 to 1995.
“This school is the symbol of the strong relations between France and the Kurdistan Region in all fields. But today the subject is related to education and culture. This school is an excellent framework,” Durel told Rudaw’s Dilnya Rahman on Wednesday after visiting the school.
He added that the graduates of the school are taught Kurdish, English and French languages and will have the opportunity to study abroad.
“The school issues international certificates to its students. This will allow them to go abroad, such as France, European countries, Canada, US, or any other country they choose. However, I hope they choose France,” the top diplomat noted.
He thanked Kurdish authorities for assisting the school.
The school says on its website that it was established for the purpose of improving education in Kurdistan.”
The relationship between the Kurds and France goes back to the 1980s. Mitterrand advocated for Kurds suffering under the regime of Saddam Hussein and was instrumental in campaigning for the no-fly zone that allowed the Kurdistan Region to develop its current autonomy. She was affectionately known as the “Mother of Kurds”, and inaugurated the first Kurdish parliament in 1992.
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