In President Barzani's presence, the 100th birth anniversary of 'Danielle Mitterrand' was commemorated
Today, Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in the city of Erbil, President Masoud Barzani participated in the ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Madame Danielle Mitterrand, wife of former French President François Mitterrand.
During the ceremony, President Masoud Barzani delivered a speech.
The text of President Barzani's speech:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
"Distinguished attendees, I am truly honored to be here with you today to commemorate the centenary of Madame Danielle Mitterrand's birth, a woman who has earned an immense debt of gratitude from the people of Kurdistan. She played an extraordinarily significant role in defending the Kurdish cause, doing everything within her power. I am certain she wished to do much more for the Kurds, but circumstances allowed only so much.
I first met her in Paris in July 1989, following the massive Anfal operations carried out by the Iraqi regime in Kurdistan. She had just returned from Turkey, where many Kurdish families, Peshmerga families, and citizens from the Badinan region had fled and settled in various locations. Madame Mitterrand had visited these people at that time. When I attempted to explain the suffering of Kurdistan's people to her, I realized she was already deeply aware and needed no explanation. She described her visits to several camps near Diyarbakir and its surroundings, and as she spoke about those people, tears rolled down her face. It was really new to me – it was the first time I had seen a European person shed tears for the Kurds, and it deeply moved me. Thereafter, in every international forum, particularly in France, she strived to defend the rights of the Kurdish people."
"After the great uprising in spring 1991, she immediately came to Haji Omaran, where we welcomed her again. During the first term of Kurdistan Parliament in 1992, she visited Kurdistan again and delivered a speech in Parliament. During this trip, she nearly lost her life when the Iraqi regime had placed a car bomb on the road between Sulaymaniyah and Halabja. The car exploded, but by miracle, she survived. Nevertheless, she didn't alter her schedule and proceeded to visit Halabja.
This remarkable lady continued her support, doing everything in her power. That's why we consider ourselves indebted to this great woman. In 1993, when Danielle Mitterrand was awarded the Human Rights Award, I had the honor of presenting it to her in Washington. Until her passing, the Kurdish cause remained among her top priorities. Once, I heard from a French minister that President Mitterrand once said, 'Madame Mitterrand has left me no peace; whenever an issue arises, she brings up the Kurdish question, insisting on action for the Kurds.'
President Mitterrand himself was also very supportive, particularly regarding UN Security Council Resolution 688. When I first met him in March 1992, I mentioned that we were heading towards elections. He said, 'This is the best and most sacred thing you could do.' As I was leaving, I asked, 'Mr. President, what message shall I convey to the people of Kurdistan? What does President Mitterrand say?' He replied, 'Tell the people of Kurdistan with certainty that they have a loyal friend in the Elysee.
"I would like to express my gratitude to all those who organized this commemoration. Whatever we do for this lady is still not enough, and we cannot fully repay our debt to her. However, she will always remain in our memories, and we will continue to remember her with immense gratitude. She holds a special place in our hearts, and may Allah grant her paradise.
Thank you very much."
