Azerbaijan condemns French statement on 'response to further provocations' by Armenia

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) — Azerbaijan on Tuesday condemned a statement by France on Baku's "response to further provocations of the Armenian armed forces illegally stationed in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan," in a statement.

"Azerbaijan considers today's statement issued by France on the measures taken in response to provocations of the Armenian armed forces illegally stationed in the Karabakh region while refusing to abandon its previous policy in the current post-conflict situation, as the support to the remnants of the occupation," said the statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The ministry said France had not only failed to contribute to a just solution to the conflict between Baku and Yerevan based on international law during its co-chairmanship to the OSCE Minsk group in 1997-2020, but also worked to "maintain the results of the occupation and the status quo in the region."

France remained outside of peace efforts in the region after the war and made statements that would negatively affect the process, and further isolated itself from the region by displaying an attitude that supported separatism, it added.

"The stance of France demonstrates that it refuses to learn from the current situation in the colonial regions that it faces today and continues its previous behavior and policy in this regard," said the ministry.

French officials are even more active in anti-Azerbaijani statements and initiatives than Armenia, it asserted, adding that the "Islamophobic and anti-Azerbaijani policy of France, as well as its unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, clearly demonstrates that the farther France is from the region, the better it will be."

France on Tuesday called for a UN Security Council meeting after Baku launched "counter-terrorism measures" in Karabakh to uphold provisions outlined in a November 2020 trilateral peace agreement it signed with Russia and Armenia following 44 days of clashes with Yerevan.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages, and settlements from Armenian occupation during 44 days of clashes. The war ended with a Russia-brokered cease-fire.

Tensions between the two nations, however, continue despite ongoing talks aiming for a long-term peace agreement.