Statue of Charles de Gaulle unveiled in Erbil

ERBIL, Iraq — A statue of former French President Charles de Gaulle was unveiled in central Erbil on Thursday evening at a ceremony attended by a broad range of political figures and members of the public. The monument was erected under the patronage of the Rewange Foundation, founded and presided over by Idries Nechirvan Barzani. De Gaulle led France during the Nazi occupation in World War II and later served as prime minister and president, founding the Fifth Republic. The statue in Erbil refers to the long-running relationship between France and the Kurds, including a letter sent by Mullah Mustafa Barzani to de Gaulle in February 1968. The installation also references France's role in international efforts after the 1991 Kurdish uprising, including the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 688. France later joined the international coalition against ISIS, provided military support to Peshmerga forces and deployed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the region in 2015. The ceremony drew political and public figures from across the city, underscoring the cultural and historical dimension of France-Kurdish ties. No further details about the event were immediately available.