The foundation stone of the German-French Joint Cultural Institute was laid in the presence of the Kurdistan Region President

Today, Sunday, January 22, 2023. In the presence of Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, German and French ambassadors, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, Safeen Dizayee, Head of Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government and a number of other officials, the foundation stone of the German-French Joint Cultural Institute was laid at Erbil Citadel.


Nechirvan Barzani said in his speech: “I am happy today to participate in laying the foundation stone for the joint cultural Center between Germany and France, and I thank both countries for all the support they provide to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.”

He stressed that "there is no doubt that this institute will become another bridge of friendship between the Kurdistan Region, Germany and France."

He stated that "Berlin and Paris provided assistance to the Kurdistan Region in difficult times, whether militarily, culturally or humanitarianly."

He continued, "On this occasion, which I see as very significant and important in strengthening cultural relations between the two sides, we thank them for all the assistance and we hope it will continue with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq."

He welcomed the two teams coming on this occasion from Berlin and Paris, the ambassadors of France and Germany to Iraq, and the consuls of the two countries in Erbil.
He concluded, "This is an important event because, as the French ambassador said, this step is the fourth of its kind, and this time the institute is being established in Erbil and in a very important location, which is the Erbil Citadel, which is evidence of the depth of relations between the Kurdistan Region, Germany and France."

In 2019, the German Chancellor and the French President decided to establish a joint German-French Institute, and the capital, Erbil, where France and Germany are represented, was chosen, to be one of the four cities in which Germany and France will implement a joint cultural program together, which indicates the fact that France and Germany attach great importance to their relations with the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Regional Government has provided a house for the French Institute and the German Goethe Institut on Erbil Citadel.