Baku blames France for hampering long-term peace in South Caucasus

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizada, has identified the destabilising interference of third countries, including France, in regional issues as one of the obstacles to long-term peace with Armenia.

“France's supply of lethal weapons to Armenia as well as long-lasting anti-Azerbaijani position that do not serve peace contradicts Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's expressed concern over regional tensions. This duality exposes France's hypocrisy,” Hajizada said on X, Caliber.Az reports.

“While the finalization of work on the draft peace treaty is an important development, signing peace agreement and lasting stability requires addressing core issues, notably Armenia's constitutional territorial claims, and halting destabilizing foreign interventions, including by France.

Moreover, obstructing judicial processes for individuals accused of crimes against humanity not only interferes in domestic affairs but also undermines accountability for such crimes,” the spokesperson wrote.

On March 13, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the completion of negotiations on the text of the draft Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Baku and Yerevan. The last two points agreed upon were related to the non-deployment of third-party forces along the common border and a mutual waiver of claims in international courts. 

On the Armenian side, the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Armenia had accepted Azerbaijan’s proposals on the two remaining disputed issues. This development signals that the peace agreement is now ready for formal signing.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also confirmed that both countries had agreed on the terms of the draft treaty and reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to advancing peace and stability efforts in the South Caucasus.

By Khagan Isayev