MOSUL, Iraq — French former President Francois Hollande visited the Iraqi city of Mosul to observe its improving, but still changing conditions than two years after the country announced the defeat of ISIS.
"The international community played its role, the coalition helped Iraqis to defeat Daesh. But now the international community must be a great support to rebuild and stabilize Iraq," he told reporters on Monday.
Hollande travelled from the Kurdistan Region's capital of Erbil to Mosul. There he visited a church, the city's minorities, and took questions from journalists.
"Today, I really wanted to come personally to see the victory. But now there must be peace, and it’s going to be a difficult job. That is why I wanted to be a witness. I was a player a few years ago," Hollande added.
He also visited the Old City in western Mosul. The area was most devastated by the conflict and where historic al-Nuri Mosque and al-Hadba Minaret were destroyed.
"It is not because Daesh seems to be eradicated that we are done here. If we don’t support each other, we will see a resurrection of those kinds of extremisms. The international community must invest here for Iraq but also for itself," said Hollande.
France's former president twice visited the Kurdistan Region and Iraq during the ISIS conflict.
He recalled visiting forces near the frontlines with then Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani.
"Two years ago, I came really close to here with President [Masoud] Barzani. We were on the top of a hill. I could see Mosul’s lights – few – but I could see there was life in Mosul. I could also see there was a war in Mosul," Hollande said.
Hollande thanked the Kurdistan Region for sheltering Yezidis, Christians, and other groups through the conflict.
"...it played a crucial part because, first of all, it fought against Daesh, and then because it rescued Christians, but not just them, also Yezidis and all the minorities which have been persecuted, [putting them] in camps," he added, referring to the Kurdistan Regional Government.
It continues to host 1.2 million IDPs and Syrian refugees.
"When Daesh came between 2014 and 2017, a lot of Christians were rescued and taken in by the KRG for many years. And now with Mosul’s liberation and its areas, it is possible to help them to come back, but we have to make them feel safe, and of course, secure," he added.
Hollande's visit is upon an official invitation from the Rudaw Media Network for a recognition ceremony for Gardi, a Rudaw journalist who died while covering the ISIS conflict in Mosul. He arrived in Erbil earlier on Monday.
Rudaw has established the Shifa Gardi International Award in her honor and as a tribute to all journalists who have died in the line of duty.
France’s close relations to the Kurdistan Region date back to the establishment of the no-fly zone in 1991 under the late French President Francois Mitterrand.
France’s close relations to the Kurdistan Region date back to the establishment of the no-fly zone in 1991 under the late French President Francois Mitterrand.
Update: 2:10 p.m.
