ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Masoud Barzani, former president of the Kurdistan Region and the leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is set to inaugurate an alley named after the Peshmerga in Paris’ André Citroen Park on Friday.

Barzani arrived in Paris on Thursday upon a formal invitation of the French government. He is accompanied by Erbil’s Governor Omed Khoshnaw.

The Kurdish leader described the commemoration as “historic”, thanking Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the city’s municipality for their efforts.

“This is a testament to the long-standing relations between the peoples of Kurdistan and France, and ensures the continuation of that relationship,” Barzani told Kurdish media in Paris prior to the ceremony.

The Paris municipality in a statement described the Peshmerga as “a symbol of the entire Kurdish people's struggle for their rights and autonomy.”

“The Peshmerga is now on the Parisian map, with an exceptional view of the Seine,” the statement added.

In April, Barzani met with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Erbil, where he was invited to visit Paris for the unveiling ceremony of an alley dedicated to the “sacrifices of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorists in a park in Paris,” according to a KDP official statement.

“I would like to commend the bravery and dedication of the Peshmerga forces,” Barrot said in a separate meeting in April with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, adding that “The bond between France and Kurdistan, as well as between the Kurdish and French peoples, is indeed remarkable.”

“We have nurtured robust and fraternal ties founded on our shared struggles and dedication to the pursuit of freedom,” the minister stated.

Reporting by Hevi Karam