Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq welcomes French Senate's France-Iraq Friendship Group

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 9 June 2022 welcomed members of the French Senate’s France-Iraq Friendship Group, led by the Group’s President, Senator Nicole Duranton.

Speaker Faiq thanked the senators for visiting Kurdistan Region, and she thanked F rance for the historic relationship and for the support of the French people and Government for Kur       distan at every stage.

They discussed the challenges to the next Kurdistan Parliament election, Kurdistan Region’s stability and the peaceful coexistence between the ethnic and religious components, women’s rights and the law on combating violence against women and families, the ongoing problems in Sinjar (Shengal), and resolving political tensions in the region were discussed at length.

Civil rights and freedoms were also discussed.

Speaker Faiq said, “"The Kurdistan Parliament is proud of the historic relationship between the Kurdistan Region and France. We thank President Macron for his visit to Iraq and Kurdistan, and we hope that this relationship will continue to develop."

On the election and other outstanding issues in Kurdistan Region and Iraq that have reached an impasse, Speaker Faiq referred to the late President Mam Jalal Talabani’s positive and charismatic role and said that his passing has left a void and since the approach to overcoming political problems and crises has taken a different direction since his death.

The French Senate delegation thanked Speaker Faiq for the meeting, and both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening parliamentary relations.

The French Senate delegation was accompanied by Consul General Olivier Decottignies and comprised the Friendship Group's Vice-President Claude Kern and members Else Joseph and Remy Feraud.