Azerbaijan responds to French diplomat’s visa criticism, accuses France of misleading analysis

Attempts to conceal government failures are a key indicator of a failed state, said Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada on X in response to remarks by French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne Boillon, regarding visa applications.

"It seems that measuring the successes of foreign policy by the number of visa applications is a new method for France,” Hajizada noted, Caliber.Az reports.

Xanım səfir @Niece_de_Rameau, hökumətin uğursuzluğunu ört-basdır etmək, uğursuz dövlətin göstəricilərindəndir.

Fransanın xarici siyasətinin uğurlarının viza müraciətlərinin sayı ilə ölçülməsi görünür ki, yeni üsuldur.

Amma, bir daha bu strategiyanın doğru faktları əks… https://t.co/BX3cxEbLpF

— Aykhan Hajizada (@Aykhanh) December 19, 2024

According to spokesperson, if this strategy is not based on actual facts, it indicates incorrect analysis and flawed foreign policy.

“Anne Boillon is well aware that the French embassy in Baku issues visas not only for trips to France," Hajizada stated.

He went on to present figures to support his stance: "Despite France's biased policy towards Azerbaijan and warnings not to travel here, the number of French citizens applying for visas to Azerbaijan has increased. In September 2023, 536 people; in October, 467 people; in September 2024, 562 people; in October, 605 people."

To recap, Boillon had previously highlighted on X a surge in visa applications from Azerbaijani citizens to the French embassy.

“Visa applications submitted to the French embassy have once again increased this year. Where does the mysterious allure of unsuccessful states stem from?” she wrote.

By Aghakazim Guliyev