Erbil prepares to welcome France’s Macron

The French leader is expected to meet former Kurdistan Region president Masoud Barzani in Erbil.

Halgurd Sherwani 2021/08/27 12:21

"Welcome Mr. President MACRON," a billboard reads in Erbil, capital of Kurdistan Region, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshman Sadiq/Kurdistan 24)

Kurdistan Emmanuel Macron Erbil Kurdistan Region Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s capital of Erbil has made preparations to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to land in the city on Sunday as part of an Iraq visit.

The streets of the capital leading to Erbil International Airport have been decorated with the flags of Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and France. The French leader is expected to meet former Kurdistan Region president Masoud Barzani in Erbil.

Thread flags of Kurdistan Region, France, and Iraq are hanged on a street in Erbil, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshamn Sadiq/Kurdistan 24) — Thread flags of Kurdistan Region, France, and Iraq are hung on a street in Erbil, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshmand Sadiq/Kurdistan 24)

Twin France flags are hanged by a street light pole in the Kurdistan Region's Erbil, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshman Sadiq/Kurdistan 24)

France flags on a street light pole in the Kurdistan Region's Erbil, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshmand Sadiq/Kurdistan 24)

This is Macron’s first visit to the Kurdistan Region. He went to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad for the first time in early September 2020, where he met with the country’s top officials.

Thread flags of Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and France are pictured, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshman Sadiq/Kurdistan 24) — Thread flags of Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and France in Erbil, August 27, 2021. (Photo: Hoshmand Sadiq/Kurdistan 24)

In this upcoming visit, the French president is expected to participate in a Baghdad summit, during which representatives of neighboring nations will participate in talks on regional stability.

Macron will reportedly also visit Mosul and meet top local officials and religious leaders.