President Barzani receives French Ambassador to Iraq.

President Masoud Barzani received French Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Patrick Durrell

 

 The French Ambassador to Iraq expressed his satisfaction that the dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad is established in order to resolve the issues and said that France will always remain sympathetic and supportive of the people of Kurdistan. The rights of the Kurdish people must be protected within a federal Iraq.  He stressed that his country considers dialogue as the best way to resolve the problems between Erbil and Baghdad, as well as the political problems in the Kurdistan Region.

 

 President Barzani also expressed his appreciation for the historic role of France in supporting the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people at all stages.  President Barzani pointed to the struggle and sacrifices of the Kurdish people for achieving freedom, sovereignty and national rights and rejecting discrimination and oppression.  President Barzani stressed that the problems between Erbil and Baghdad include violation of the constitution and non-compliance with the agreements, as well as the threat to the democratic process and attempts to weaken the Kurdistan Region, which is a constitutionally  recognised region.  President Barzani considered the budget and entitlements of the Kurdistan Region as a natural right of the Kurdish people that should not be used as a political card against the region.  President Barzani expressed his support for the continuation of the dialogue between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Republic of Iraq and described it as the best way to resolve the issues between the two sides.

 

 Regarding the elections, President Barzani stressed that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is always ready for a clean and fair election whose results reflect the true will of its voters and all the components can represent their will and vote and away from pre-design and legal and technical problems.  President Barzani hoped that the political parties in the Kurdistan Region will serve to protect and strengthen the Kurdistan Region within the framework of respecting the will of the  people of Kurdistan and the highest interests of the region and taking into account the culture and values ​​of democracy.