SULAIMANI (ESTA) — French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Kurds and the Peshmerga forces during his visit to the Kurdistan Region.
Macron arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Sunday, following his visit to Baghdad to take part in a regional summit hosted by the Iraqi government.
Macron and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met in Erbil, in which Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Parliament Speaker Rewaz Fayaq.
“Tribute to all the fighters who fought on the front line against Daesh, to the Kurds and their forces, the Peshmerga, to Iraqi forces, to members of the international coalition, to the French forces,” Macron said in a tweet.
He also said in a joint press conference with the Region’s president that France would continue to help and support the Kurdistan Region.
Macron also paid a visit to the Islamic State (ISIS) former stronghold Mosul, a day after vowing to keep troops in the country.
He said ISIS did not differentiate between people’s religion and nationality when it came to killing, noting that the militants killed many Muslims.
“We will do whatever we can, shoulder to shoulder, with the governments of the region and with the Iraqi government to fight against this terrorism,” Macron said in English following a visit to an iconic mosque that was destroyed by the extremists.
“We will be present alongside with sovereign governments to restore peace,” he added.
Macron further said France would help in rebuilding mutual respect as well as monuments, churches, schools and mosques and most importantly “economic opportunity”.
