French foreign ministry's anti-Azerbaijan rhetoric fails to resonate with world powers Official Paris no stranger to rebukes

In a recent joint briefing with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne made a statement that can only be described as a blatant provocation against Azerbaijan.

Sejourne falsely claimed that Azerbaijan was challenging Armenia's territorial integrity, which is nothing short of an outrageous lie. He then went on to accuse Azerbaijan of spreading fake news and blaming Armenia for the escalating tensions in the region.

"We are very concerned, given that Azerbaijan's rhetoric is getting out of control. We also see an increase in fake news from Baku, and they tend to blame Armenia for the escalation, although Armenia is probably the only one trying to avoid it. Dear Anthony, I think we should pay extraordinary attention to this six months before the COP29 summit in Baku," said Sejourne.

In his speech, Blinken did not touch upon Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The US Secretary of State called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev was quick to refute these false allegations and reaffirm Azerbaijan's unwavering commitment to the agreements made at the Prague meeting in 2022 and the Almaty Declaration.

The recent actions of the Azerbaijani President have brought to light certain officials in Paris who have taken a pro-Armenian stance and have been attempting to stir up conflict in the South Caucasus region. Specifically, the French Foreign Minister's statement has been identified as an example of this policy of instigation. This behaviour can potentially exacerbate the already volatile situation and should be approached with caution.

It is worth remembering the recent statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the XI Global Baku Forum, which had the theme "Fixing a fractured world." The President emphasised that with the Karabakh issue resolved, Azerbaijan is very close to peace and believes peace is achievable. He added that Azerbaijan has restored historical justice and international law, and now it is time to put an end to hostility in the region.

It is baffling that Stefan Sejourne would brazenly lie about Azerbaijan's intentions despite the clear call for peace from the head of their state. The French Foreign Minister is evidently the creator and spreader of fake news. What's more, the French Ambassador to Armenia, Olivier Decottigny, made a cynical confession, making the French Foreign Minister's attempt to accuse Azerbaijan even more striking.

The French diplomat stated that if the weapons supplied by France to Armenia had no military purpose, Azerbaijan would not be making complaints about it. He also mentioned that France is the first NATO country to provide weapons to a CSTO member and highlighted that the collaboration between the two countries also includes military training and assistance from French instructors. This statement implies that Paris may not be interested in peace but rather a new war in the region.

Emmanuel Macron and Stephane Sejourne refuse to acknowledge the truth and instead spread falsehoods about Azerbaijan. The phrase about Azerbaijan's rhetoric getting out of control is unacceptable even for a small clerk in the French Foreign Ministry, let alone the head of French diplomacy. Azerbaijan is the political, economic and military leader of the South Caucasus. Our country has always demonstrated its ability to pursue an independent foreign policy based on the defence of its national interests.

The full restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the liberation of all territories occupied by Armenia are examples of our country's successful and principled position. They are also examples of how justice can be achieved despite the plans and positions of the world's leading powers, including the United States and France. So Mr Sejourne's insinuations won't help him.

His tone and rhetoric would be better suited to addressing Armenia, a nation still struggling to achieve full sovereignty and independence. Armenia has mistakenly placed excessive reliance on Macron's France, which is known for making loud and populist statements and harbouring unfulfilled imperial ambitions. This has drawn fair criticism from other nations across the globe. It is worth recalling that the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, publicly disagreed with French President Emmanuel Macron's idea to introduce European troops into Ukraine in late March. She emphasised that politicians must be cautious with the tone they use in speeches, adding that serious matters require serious responses.

Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli pointed out that Sejourne's statements harmed the efforts of mediators trying to establish peace in the South Caucasus. Cirielli rightly advised that the ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia was now solid due to both countries' responsibility. However, any unprepared statement made by representatives outside of the involved parties could worsen the situation and exacerbate tensions.

Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister expressed concern over the French Foreign Minister's statements during a joint press conference with the US Secretary of State. The Italian official stated that such remarks do not help to ease the ongoing tensions in the region. The Deputy Minister urged the French Minister to refrain from making comments that could undermine the efforts of those working towards peace. These remarks were reported by the Giornale Diplomatico (Diplomatic Journal).

The Italian official's comments were accurate and unapologetic criticism aimed directly at France from Italy's perspective. It appears that during Macron's presidency, France has been receiving criticism from various countries, including Baku, Rome, Berlin, and Washington.