On 23 April, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot met with Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the External Relations Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in Erbil (Hewlêr). The meeting focused on regional stability, the political transition in Syria and France’s potential role in facilitating a more inclusive political process.
Barrot underlined France’s support for Kurdish-led initiatives that promote pluralism and safeguard the rights of all Syrian communities. He stressed the importance of including Kurdish representatives in the political process to ensure an inclusive solution to the Syrian crisis. Barrot also reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting the reconstruction of Syria, particularly in areas controlled by Kurdish forces, while advocating for the protection of ethnic and religious minorities.
Barrot also met with Kurdish Regional Government leaders President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. They discussed regional security, terrorism, and Iraq’s territorial integrity. Barrot reaffirmed France’s support for Iraq’s sovereignty and the need for international cooperation on security. Additionally, Barrot met with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leaders Bafel and Qubad Talabani to address regional cooperation and stability.
This diplomatic engagement underlines France’s continued efforts to support a political solution in Syria that includes all stakeholders, with a particular focus on ensuring Kurdish representation in the country’s future governance. Barrot stressed that Syria’s future political framework should reflect the participation of all ethnic and political groups.
