PARIS - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Paris on Sunday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, amid major developments in the Middle East. The visit follows a series of high-level meetings with regional leaders, signaling an elevated role for the Kurdistan Region in regional diplomacy.
"On Monday, President Nechirvan Barzani and President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to meet at the Elysee Palace to discuss the relationship between France, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, as well as their collaborative efforts," the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement on Sunday.
Speaking to Rudaw on Sunday, Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, said, "This meeting comes at a time of major developments in the Middle East. This naturally highlights the influence of the Kurdistan Region and the effective role of its president."
Shahab indicated that “important issues in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the region in general… are set to be central topics, as well as the bilateral and historical relations,” between the Region and France.
"The position of the Kurdistan Region and the role of its president have shifted from efforts to safeguard the Region’s status to becoming a key player in shaping the changes in the region," Shahab added.
Adel Bakawan, director of the French Centre for Research on Iraq (CFRI), told Rudaw on Sunday that, "I can say that President Macron is one of the architects of rebuilding the Middle East."
“The Middle East is going through a significant historical moment,” he said, adding that “we are rebuilding the Middle East, overall five areas: In the Arabian, Israeli, Iranian, Turkish, and Kurdish areas. In each of these areas, many processes are ongoing with central figures participating in this rebuilding [process].”
Bakawan highlighted Barzani’s recent meetings with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as indicators that regional powers recognize Barzani’s significance. He said the meetings show that Barzani "has an [important] say and ideas" and that "Kurds are not barred from the process of rebuilding the Middle East but are a player in rebuilding the Middle East."
On Friday, Barzani met Sharaa for the first time on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey and offered his "continued support."
Sharaa was named interim president in January, a month after leading a coalition of rebel groups that toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad. He pledged to form an "inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria's diversity," but has faced criticism for marginalizing minority communities.
In March, Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement to integrate the SDF into Syrian state institutions. Barzani described the agreement as "an appropriate roadmap for the future and a correct transitional phase," and expressed Erbil's "full support" for Syria's stability. The deal has since been followed by a hostage exchange and security rearrangements.
Also on Friday, Barzani met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss reviving the peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The meeting came a day after Erdogan received a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, which has been mediating the talks. The negotiations gained momentum after the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire more than a month ago and expressed commitment to their imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for disbanding the group.
Following his meeting with Erdogan, Barzani said he "reiterated the importance of reviving the peace process in Türkiye."
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially demanded an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. It is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
On Monday, Barzani met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation and regional developments. During the visit, Barzani told reporters that the UAE is considering appointing a special envoy to promote investment in the Kurdistan Region.
Barzani was last in Paris in December to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
France and the Kurdistan Region enjoy long-standing ties, dating back to France’s support for the no-fly zone that enabled the Region to develop its current autonomy. France was among the first countries to open a consulate in Erbil after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and played a crucial role in supporting Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in both Iraq and Syria.
