PUK President to French FM: Dialogue Is Key to Lasting Peace in the Middle East

PUK President's Media Office

PUK President meets Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.

Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), met in Erbil with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.

The meeting, which was also attended by Qubad Talabani and Darbaz Kosrat Rasul—members of the PUK Political Bureau—focused on enhancing the longstanding relations between the Kurdistan Region and France.

The PUK President expressed heartfelt appreciation to the French government and people for their enduring support of the Kurdistan Region at various points in time, commending their continued cooperation. He remarked, “We will never forget our friends who have stood by us and did not abandon us.”

Both parties agreed on the urgency of forming a robust, service-oriented government ahead of the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections. They stressed that a unified Kurdish stance is essential to effectively face challenges and to serve the people and the higher national interests, ensuring a firm position in Baghdad.

Another topic of discussion was the situation in Syria and Western Kurdistan. Both sides reaffirmed the need to safeguard the rights of all communities within a reimagined Syrian framework, with particular emphasis on the Kurdish population in Western Kurdistan.

President Bafel Jalal Talabani reiterated the PUK’s principled national stance, stating: “Kurdish unity and the defence of their rights are vital to maintaining peace and security in the area. We therefore urge all parties to resolve disputes through dialogue and peaceful means. This is the right approach for securing stability and lasting peace in the Middle East.”



PUKMEDIA