ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Masoud Barzani, former president of the Kurdistan Region and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Friday expressed gratitude for France’s continued support of the Kurdish cause over the years, at the opening ceremony of an alley paying tribute to the Kurdish Peshmerga in the French capital.

Barzani arrived in Paris on Thursday upon a formal invitation of the French government, to attend the inauguration of an alley named after the Peshmerga in Paris’ Andre Citroen Park.

“Today is a historic day in the history of the Kurdish people,” said Barzani at the event, thanking Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the municipality for “organizing such an important and historic event.”

Barzani stressed that “the honor given to the Peshmerga today is a tribute to the Peshmerga struggle,” and “a development of friendship between the Kurdish people and the French people.”

“Several presidents have changed in France in the past, but France's attitude [towards Kurds] has not changed,” he stated, lauding Danielle Mitterrand, then first lady of France, who’s valiant advocacy for Kurdish rights was instrumental in adopting UN Security Resolution 688.

The resolution established a no-fly zone to protect the Kurdistan Region’s residents from the Baath regime’s attacks, paving the way for the formation of the first Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet.

“I saw her shed tears for the victims of the Kurdish people in 1999, which will never be forgotten,” said the Kurdish leader.

Mitterrand is affectionately known as “Mother of Kurds.”

“France and the French people are in the hearts of the Kurdish people. Long live Paris, long live Erbil, long live the friendship between the Kurdish people and the French people,” Barzani added.

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

“Today is a historic day and I will never forget it as long as I live,” the Kurdish leader concluded.

Reporting by Hevi Karam