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Kurdistan
France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu (left) meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (right) in Erbil on July 19, 2023. Photo: handout
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Erbil, describing the trip as an “important message” from Paris of support for the Kurdistan Region.
Lecornu arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday where he met with his Iraqi counterpart. On Wednesday, he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and they discussed “strengthening security cooperation and collaboration,” according to Sudani’s office, before the French minister travelled to Erbil.
“His visit is an important message of France’s continuous support for and friendship with Iraq and Kurdistan Region,” President Barzani said during a joint press conference with Lecornu.
“We held an excellent meeting, talking about the fight against ISIS [Islamic State] and confronting terrorism and extremism. We both agreed that ISIS poses a direct and dangerous threat against the security and stability of Iraq and the region. Therefore, the support from the global coalition and France for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region should continue,” added the Kurdish president.
He also thanked France for its support for the Kurdistan Region. “The people of Kurdistan will never forget France's support in different stages,” said Barzani.
Iraq and France made a number of strategic agreements early this year, meant to boost cooperation. The Iraqi government and France’s TotalEnergies also signed an energy deal. In a press conference alongside Iraq’s Defence Minister Thabet Muhammad al-Abbasi on Tuesday, Lecornu announced that 80 French trainers will conduct a two-year training course of about 2,100 Iraqi soldiers, the equivalent of five “desert battalions.” As a member of the US-led global coalition against ISIS, France has trained about 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, including Kurdish Peshmerga.Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Erbil
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) July 19, 2023
📽️: Kurdistan Region Presidency pic.twitter.com/9XV3iRX0vh
“We support the agreement and understanding between Iraq and France and we expect Kurdistan to take its share from them, especially when it comes to the training of the Peshmerga,” said Barzani during the press conference.
Lecornu highlighted his country's contribution to the fight against ISIS, noting that the world is facing several security challenges, including terrorism.
“France has a special contact with this region - a friendly and sympathetic contact,” he said. “France is not like other Western countries in relation to the fight against terrorism.”
Lecornu said that it is “very important” to continue the fight against terrorism, which remains a threat. “We have not fully completed our mission against the Islamic radicalization, which is the Islamic State. Therefore, we have to continue our meetings and talks in terms of information and training,” he said.
Updated at 10:50 pm
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