President Masoud Barzani praised Danielle Mitterrand’s pivotal role in defending Kurdish rights and fostering global peace during a heartfelt centenary tribute.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Erbil, a centenary commemoration of Danielle Mitterrand’s birth was held with the attendance of President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
During the ceremony, a photography exhibition showcasing Mitterrand’s work was presented, followed by a documentary about her life. The event highlighted her efforts to promote global peace, especially in the Kurdistan Region. In 1991, Danielle Mitterrand visited President Barzani and Kurdish refugees, witnessing their hardships firsthand. She famously declared, “We have tried to bring the Kurdish voice to the world.”
France subsequently called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to protect the Kurdish people. This led to the adoption of Resolution 688, which established a no-fly zone and a safe haven above the 36th parallel.
Born on October 29, 1924, in Eastern France’s Verdun, Danielle Mitterrand passed away on November 22, 2011.
In his speech during the centennial ceremony, President Barzani expressed his gratitude and respect: “I am deeply honored to participate in this event commemorating the 100th birthday of Madame Danielle Mitterrand. She holds a unique place in the hearts of the Kurdish people, having played a significant role in defending Kurdish rights. She did everything within her power, and I am certain she would have done much more had opportunities allowed.”
President Barzani recalled their first meeting in July 1989 in Paris, shortly after the Anfal campaigns, when she had returned from Turkey, where many Kurds had fled. “I wanted to speak about the suffering of the Kurdish people, but I saw that she was already deeply aware. When she spoke about our people, tears came to her eyes. It was the first time I had seen a European cry for the Kurds. That had a profound impact on me. She worked tirelessly in every international forum to advocate for Kurdish rights.”
He also shared: “Following the 1991 uprising, she visited Haji Omran to meet us and later attended the first Kurdish Parliament session in 1992. Despite threats from the Iraqi regime, including a landmine-laden car sent between Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, she continued her journey to visit Halabja.”
President Barzani reflected on her commitment: “In 1993 when he was awarded a human rights prize, it was my honor to present it to her. Until her last breath, the Kurdish cause remained her priority. Once, a French minister told me that President François Mitterrand often remarked, ‘Madame Mitterrand never left any task unfinished; every issue brought to her attention was accompanied by her insistence that it be resolved, especially for the Kurds.’”
He further emphasized: “UN Resolution 688 and France’s efforts under President François Mitterrand played a pivotal role. In December 1992, when I informed her, we were preparing for elections, she asked me to tell the Kurdish people, ‘You have a loyal friend in Élysée.’”
President Barzani concluded: “I thank all those who organized this commemoration. Whatever we do to honor her will never be enough. We remember her with the utmost respect and gratitude.”
The Kurdish Globe