Azerbaijan rejects French minister’s remarks at Senate as “provocative”

Azerbaijan has strongly rejected statements made by France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, describing them as “anti-Azerbaijani allegations” voiced during a session at the French Senate.

In an official commentary, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said Baku “firmly rejects” the remarks delivered on 6 May.

“We firmly reject the anti-Azerbaijan allegations voiced by France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, at the French Senate on 6 May,” Hajizada stated.

He criticised the French minister’s use of the term “Nagorno-Karabakh,” stressing that the Garabagh region is “an integral part of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory.”

“The French Minister’s narrative on ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’ in reference to the Garabagh region… is unacceptable,” he said.

Hajizada argued that the statements come at a sensitive time for the region, following what he described as the establishment of conditions for lasting peace after Azerbaijan’s military actions.

“At a time when conditions for lasting peace have been created… we strongly condemn such provocative statements by the French side, which question Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over its territories,” he noted.

The spokesperson also accused Paris of applying “double standards,” pointing to what he said was France’s failure to address the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage during the years of Armenian occupation.

“It is a clear example of double standards that the French Minister… ignores the destruction of hundreds of mosques and other cultural heritage sites… while commenting on the demolition of certain structures dating back to the occupation period,” Hajizada said.

He emphasised that all historical and religious monuments in Azerbaijan are protected by the state.

“Historical and religious monuments located in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan constitute our national and cultural heritage and are protected regardless of their origin,” he added.

Addressing calls by France for a UNESCO assessment mission to the Garabagh region, Hajizada said such claims “distort realities.”

“It is Azerbaijan that has repeatedly called for such assessment missions, while… their realization has been hindered… by countries such as Armenia and France,” he stated, referring to findings he said were reflected in a 2005 UNESCO report.

Concluding the statement, Hajizada warned that such rhetoric undermines regional stability.

“Such statements by the French Minister do not serve for lasting and sustainable peace in the region,” he said.

By Vugar Khalilov