Azerbaijan rejects France’s stance on Armenia-related issues as biased UPDATED

Azerbaijan has strongly condemned and rejected what it described as “unfounded” responses issued by France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to questions raised by members of the French National Assembly regarding Armenians from the former conflict zone, detainees of Armenian origin, cultural heritage issues, and human rights.

In a commentary released on June 24, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said the French statements represented “yet another example” of Paris’ longstanding bias toward the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalisation process, Caliber.Az reports.

“We strongly condemn and reject the unfounded responses published on 23 June on the website of the French National Assembly,” Hajizada said, adding that the French position reflected “a long-standing biased approach toward the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process.”

The spokesperson criticised France for focusing on issues related to Armenia while overlooking the consequences of Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

“While extensive attention is devoted to issues such as Armenia’s security, ‘Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh,’ and ‘Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan,’ it is regrettable that no mention is made of Armenia’s nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories, the destruction committed during that period, the plight of more than one million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons, the fate of missing persons, and the ongoing mine threat posed by Armenia,” he stated.

Hajizada also accused France of abandoning neutrality in the South Caucasus, pointing to its defence cooperation with Armenia and support for the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA).

“France’s expanding military cooperation with Armenia, its provision of arms, and its overtly one-sided political stance do not contribute to peace. On the contrary, such actions encourage revanchist tendencies and undermine the normalization process,” he said.

Addressing concerns raised by France regarding Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

“The allegations concerning ‘Armenian prisoners and detainees’ are entirely detached from reality. Attempts to politicize this issue and call into question judicial decisions are unacceptable,” Hajizada said.

According to the spokesperson, Armenian-origin individuals currently detained in Azerbaijan have been prosecuted “in accordance with national legislation and international law for specific criminal offenses.”

Commenting on cultural heritage issues, Hajizada described France’s position as contradictory.

“It is particularly ironic that France, which has chosen to ignore the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage, the demolition of mosques, and acts of vandalism committed in Armenia and the formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan, seeks to comment on the claims concerning ‘Armenian cultural and religious heritage,’” he said.

The Azerbaijani official also criticised France’s own human rights record, citing “corruption scandals involving politicians, police brutality, the violent dispersal of protesters, pressure on journalists, violations of migrants’ rights, religious discrimination, as well as violence in its overseas territories, including New Caledonia.”

“France ... attempts to portray itself as a champion of human rights and lecture Azerbaijan on this matter,” Hajizada said.

Concluding the commentary, the spokesperson argued that France continues to pursue “outdated and one-sided political approaches” in the region.

“The responses of the French Ministry once again demonstrate that official Paris continues to struggle to accept the realities of the region and, instead of contributing to lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus, persists in pursuing outdated and one-sided political approaches,” Hajizada stated.

“Such a policy causes serious damage to France’s credibility and standing both in the region and as a reliable international partner,” he added.