France-Azerbaijan: Politics or economics more important? Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

The restrictions will be applied on the import of food products into Azerbaijan from November 1, 2023, from French enterprises that have not applied for an export permit. This warning was issued by the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency.

The Food Safety Agency noted that dozens of French enterprises exporting high-risk food products, despite repeated warnings, did not submit applications for approval of their products.

“Food facilities producing and processing these products must be approved by the Agency upon the request of food facilities for the import of high-risk animal products into the customs territory of the country in accordance with Articles 20.3 and 24.5 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan ‘On Food Safety’. The meetings were held with representatives of companies involved in the import of such food products from several countries, including France, to implement the relevant law. However, the Agency did not receive any applications from French companies,” the Food Safety Agency said. 

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, goods of animal origin worth $2 million were imported from France over the eight months of 2023.

It seems that foreign policy differences between Baku and Paris have a negative impact on economic cooperation between the two countries. What result will be observed? France and Azerbaijan have more than just food trade. Azerbaijan purchases modern passenger aircraft from France. The French Total oil and gas giant is involved in production in Azerbaijan and plans to invest in the development of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan. Could two countries cease mutually beneficial cooperation due to contradictions over the “Armenian issue”?

Well-known foreign experts answered Caliber.Az journalist’s questions.

Specialist in French culture, candidate of historical sciences, and associate professor at the Institute of Social Sciences at Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration Igor Ignatchenko said that it seems that now French President Emmanuel Macron’s administration will be under strong and ongoing pressure from the Armenian lobby in France.

“France openly supported Armenia’s position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, and it is obvious that the French leadership will consistently continue following this course. Therefore, demonstrative and outwardly spectacular steps by the French government towards unconditional support for the Armenian leadership should be expected in the near future.

I think that France, at least in the short term prospect, will be ready to sacrifice less significant vectors of the French-Azerbaijani cooperation to demonstrate loyalty to its main strategic ally in the South Caucasus,” Ignatchenko noted.

He stressed that the spheres of interaction that are strategically significant for Paris will not be affected.

“Of course, Azerbaijan and France will stop cooperating in some spheres soon, but I don’t think that economic ties will be fully broken. Paris is expected to make statements and spectacular demonstrations,” the French expert added.

In turn, Russian expert on the South Caucasus Konstantin Tasits stated that from his point of view, Azerbaijan and France are unlikely to fully stop cooperating.

“As a rule, pro-Armenian initiatives of Paris are populist in nature as they are stipulated by the domestic political agenda. A big and influential Armenian diaspora, whose position plays an important role during election campaigns, lives in France. French politicians and officials speak about support for Armenia, but do not have the intentions and capabilities to provide Yerevan with real security guarantees,” Tasits added.