In a formal ceremony in Erbil, a statue of French General and President Charles de Gaulle was unveiled in the presence of senior Kurdish officials, including Mr. Sidad Barzani representing President Masoud Barzani, alongside diplomats, foreign consuls, and representatives of political parties. The event highlighted the historic ties between de Gaulle and the Kurdish national movement led by Mustafa Barzani, with special emphasis on the 1968 letter exchanged between the two leaders, which continues to symbolize longstanding Kurdish-French relations. Organized by the Rwanga Foundation in cooperation with the French Consulate General and the French Institute in Erbil, the initiative was presented as a cultural and diplomatic milestone reflecting growing cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and France.
Charles de Gaulle, born on November 22, 1890, in Lille, France, was a French general and statesman who became a central figure in World War II resistance efforts. After the fall of France to Nazi Germany, he refused to surrender, organized the Free French Forces, and led the French Resistance from exile. Following the Allied invasion of Normandy, his movement played a key role in France’s liberation, and he later helped restore national sovereignty and shape modern French political life.
