"We are indebted to Madame Mitterrand," President Barzani stated at centenary commemoration
"When she spoke about visiting refugee camps, tears rolled down her face. It was truly remarkable for me - the first time I had seen a European shed tears for the Kurds. This deeply affected me," President Barzani recalled.
Nov. 12, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24)—On Tuesday, in a tribute marking the centenary of Danielle Mitterrand's birth, President Masoud Barzani declared that "Madame Mitterrand has great rights over us, the people of Kurdistan," during a commemorative ceremony in Erbil attended by KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
"She played an enormous role in defending the Kurdish cause. She did everything in her power, and I'm certain she wanted to do much more for the Kurds, but circumstances only allowed this much," President Barzani stated during his speech.
Recalling his first meeting with Mitterrand in France in 1989, following the Anfal genocide, Barzani shared a touching memory: "When I wanted to explain the suffering of the Kurdish people, I noticed she was already well aware and needed no explanation. When she spoke about visiting refugee camps near Diyarbakir and described the people's condition, tears rolled down her face. It was truly remarkable for me - the first time I had seen a European shed tears for the Kurds. This deeply affected me."
President Barzani also revealed a significant conversation from his first meeting with former French President François Mitterrand in 1992, where the French leader assured him, "Tell the people of Kurdistan with certainty that they have a loyal friend in the Élysée."
"We consider ourselves indebted to Madame Mitterrand," Barzani emphasized. "Until her final days, the Kurdish cause remained one of her top priorities."
Danielle Mitterrand's advocacy for Kurdish rights, particularly during the 1991 exodus, was instrumental in securing international protection for the Kurdish people through UN Security Council Resolution 688.
Her humanitarian work and diplomatic influence helped establish the foundation for today's Kurdistan Region, marking her as one of the most significant international allies in Kurdish history.
Her legacy continues to symbolize the strong bonds between the Kurdish people and France.
At the ceremony, President Masoud Barzani delivered a speech. The following is the full transcript of the speech:
In the name of God the Compassionate and the Merciful,
Distinguished attendees, I am very happy that we are here with you today to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Mrs. Danielle Mitterrand's birth, who truly has great merit over us, the people of Kurdistan. She played a very significant role in defending the Kurdish cause, doing everything in her power, and I am certain she wanted to do much more for the Kurds, but that was all the opportunity allowed.
The first time I met her was in July 1989 in Paris, after the major Anfal operation that the Iraqi regime carried out in Kurdistan. She had returned from Turkey a few days earlier, as many families of Peshmerga and Kurdish citizens from the Badinan region had migrated to Turkey and settled in several locations there. Mrs. Danielle Mitterrand had visited these people at that time. When I wanted to explain the pain and suffering of the Kurdish people to her, I noticed she was very well aware and needed no explanation. She spoke about visiting one or two camps in the Diyarbakir region and its surroundings, and as she talked about those people, tears came to her eyes. This was truly something new for me; it was the first time I had seen a European person shed tears for the Kurds, and it deeply affected me. After that, in every international forum in France itself, she worked to defend the rights of the Kurdish people.
After the great uprising in spring 1991, she immediately came to Haji Omaran, and we went there to welcome her again. During the first term of the Kurdistan Parliament in 1992, she visited Kurdistan again and delivered a speech in Parliament. She nearly lost her life during this trip because the Iraqi regime had placed a car bomb on the road between Sulaimani and Halabja. The car exploded, but God saved her; she miraculously survived. However, she didn't abandon her program and still visited Halabja.
This lady continued, doing everything she could, which is why we consider ourselves indebted to this great lady. In 1993, when the Human Rights Award was presented to Danielle Mitterrand, I had the honor of presenting that award to her in Washington. Until the day of her death, the Kurdish cause remained among her priorities. Once, I heard from a French minister who said that President Mitterrand once said, "Madame Mitterrand has left me no peace; whenever an issue comes up, she brings up the Kurdish issue and says we must do this and that for the Kurds." President Mitterrand himself had great merit, both in Resolution 688 of the Security Council, and when I first met him in March 1992, I told him we were heading toward elections. He said this is the best thing you're doing, the most sacred thing. When I stood up, I asked him, "Mr. President, what message should I convey to the people of Kurdistan? What does President Mitterrand say?" He said, "Confidently tell the people of Kurdistan that they have a loyal friend in the Élysée."
Finally, I thank all those who organized this commemoration, and whatever we do for this lady is still not enough, and we cannot repay her dues, but we will always remember her with great appreciation, she remains in our hearts, and God willing, may she rest in paradise.
Thank you very much.
Updated at 14:24, Nov. 12, 2024