Baku condemns French president’s "baseless anti-Azerbaijan allegations"

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s baseless anti-Azerbaijan allegations during a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on February 21.

“We strongly condemn the baseless anti-Azerbaijan allegations, unilaterally defending Armenia, by the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron,” the ministry said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports.

“As a country, which has never mentioned the rights of Azerbaijanis violated for nearly 30 years, displaced from their territories, and subjected to mass massacres, the French side’s statement about the rights and security of Armenians left the territories of Azerbaijan at their own will and without any violence, is completely inappropriate.

Moreover, it would be more appropriate for France that touch upon the importance of territorial integrity within the framework of the Alma-Ata declaration and certain maps, to clarify why, contrary to such agreements, they have not stood against the Armenian aggression and the occupation of Azerbaijani territories for almost 30 years, as well as the continuing occupation of 8 villages of Azerbaijan by Armenia.

It is unacceptable to blame Azerbaijan for taking a disproportionate response, while refraining from criticizing Armenia, who took unprovoked actions disrupting the stable situation that lasted for almost 5 months. Such biased approaches should be stopped.

We once again declare that France’s insidious policy of creating new tension in the region, and hindering peace and stability will not yield any results,” the statement reads.