ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani has sent a message of condolences to his French counterpart Francois Hollande, saying that he was saddened by the terrorist attack in Nice and that terrorists are enemies of humanity and liberty everywhere in the world.
"I strongly condemn that savage attack," said President Barzani in his message on Thursday.
"Dear Francois Hollande, President of the Republic of France, I was deeply saddened by the terrorist attack in Nice and the killing of innocent civilians on France's national day," read Barzani's message.
The Kurdish president said that he sends his condolences to France and the French people on behalf of the Kurdish nation while wishing a speedy recovery for those wounded in the attack.
At least 84 people were killed late Thursday night in the French city of Nice when a lorry drove into a crowd and mowed down innocent pedestrians and attendants of the French Bastille day of July 14. Many others were wounded.
Barzani said that the attack on people who celebrated their national day "was an attack on the principles and values of liberty, equality and fraternity of the French revolution,"
France and the Kurdistan Region enjoy strong diplomatic relations. France has been one of the main supporters of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS). French President Hollande himself visited the Kurdistan Region in 2014.
President Barzani said in his message that the Kurds, as victims of terrorism, understand and share the pain of the French people.
"The people of Kurdistan who are victims of terrorism and are on the forefront in the war against terror, have empathy to the people of France and we will stand by the French government and people the best way we can in the fight against extremism,"
