“The old friendship [between France and Iraq] has served as a barrier against terrorism; we must now nourish it with concrete projects to build long-lasting peace together,” Macron told a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih, according to Reuters.

“That will be my message when I visit Iraq in a few months,” he added.

During the press conference, Salih said that thirteen French Islamic State detainees who were transferred to Iraq last week from the Syrian Democratic Forces will be tried in Iraq.

“They are accused of having commanded operations against Iraqis and Iraqi installations in Iraq, and they will be tried according to Iraqi law,” Salih said.

“We are acting within the confines of international law on this matter.”

Salih added that Iraq would seek to prosecute in Iraq those Islamic State fighters who have committed crimes against Iraqis and Iraqi installations in Iraq.

Salih is in France for a two-day visit following a trip to the Arab-EU summit in Egypt.

Reporter’s code: 50101