Macron's advocate for Armenia exploits COP29 to manoeuvre Azerbaijan in peace talks Hawk in dove’s garb

In a recent interview with Armenian outlet Hetq, French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies commented on the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Here, we’ll focus on his statements regarding the peace talks, though readers can find a comprehensive analysis by Farhad Mammadov, Head of the South Caucasus Research Centre, on his Telegram channel.

Decottignies casts himself as a hawk — a stance that comes easily when his combative remarks target not Armenia, but Azerbaijan. Through his words, Paris often broadcasts its boldest and, at times, most bizarre perspectives on the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, and his recent remarks fit this pattern, even pushing French diplomacy toward a level some may deem arrogance.

“I believe that the need to sign a peace agreement is urgent. It has been repeatedly stated, including by the Armenian Prime Minister, that most of the agreement has already been agreed upon. The Armenian Prime Minister has expressed his readiness to sign what has already been agreed upon as the basis of the agreement; further discussion of outstanding issues is possible,” Decottignies began.

In essence, official Paris has taken it upon itself to support Yerevan's misleading narratives, conveniently overlooking the fact that the unresolved issues are the core challenges in the peace process. Azerbaijan continually communicates this reality to the global community across international platforms.

Yet, the French diplomat goes beyond subtle implications, assuming it his duty to instruct Azerbaijan on what Paris believes it "must" do. Decottignies states, “Azerbaijan has a special responsibility, especially since, as the organiser of COP29, it attracts international attention, which gives them special international obligations. At this stage, their main responsibility is to conclude a peace agreement with Armenia.”

Does this sound familiar? It should. Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden sent a letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev containing a similar link between the peace process and COP29. In that letter, Biden suggested that “As the world's attention turns to Baku for COP29, you have a unique opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to peace in front of a global audience”. We have analyzed his letter in our previous article.

As we can see, while the American president maintains a diplomatic tone, referring to a "unique opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to peace," the French diplomat, representing a country that has faced setbacks on the international stage, attempts to impose his unilateral interpretation of international law. According to him, Azerbaijan's main obligation now appears to be to make peace with Armenia.

Yes, the language differs, but the message is the same: the collective West is attempting to leverage the COP29 event to pressure Baku into signing a diluted peace agreement soon. It’s as if the West seriously believes it has succeeded in cornering Baku, thinking it would now concede even its national interests. Absurd. They overlook the reality that Baku earned the right to host COP29 precisely by upholding its sovereignty, not by compromising it.

To reiterate: the global community has not tied the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan to any peace process obligations. This is simply another instance of manipulation. It’s akin to suggesting that London in 1948, as the Olympic host, owed Germany the right to sink a couple of British submarines. Pure absurdity and nonsense.

When an eager Armenian journalist pressed, "What will happen if they delay or refuse to sign the agreement before the climate summit?" the unflinching French diplomat replied, "This question should be directed to Azerbaijan. Our stance is clear. The conditions for a peace agreement are in place and should be concluded as soon as possible - before the climate summit."

Evidently, Paris is determined to nudge Armenia towards peace, attempting to leverage Baku's engagement with COP29. Yet, when comparing Decottignies's words with Biden’s letter, an interesting contrast emerges: Washington, while also using COP29 as a talking point, subtly extends its timeline by calling for peace by the year’s end. Paris, however, insists on an uncompromising deadline.

But what if Baku disregards this “mandate”? Why didn't the ambassador outline the consequences Paris has in mind if Azerbaijan doesn’t sign a rushed peace agreement before COP29? Or perhaps, what further measures are Paris prepared to take beyond the actions they’re already committed to? We see it all — arming Armenia and stoking its aspirations for revenge, the most perilous of your moves — and we know you’ll persist, irrespective of when or how a peace agreement is signed.

We, for our part, stand ready to take all necessary actions to defend our statehood. And if there's any doubt about what that might entail, recent history offers a reminder: in 2020 and 2023, you’ve seen the results firsthand. For any who may have forgotten, let me reiterate in your native tongue, saving your translators a moment in the process: Poing de fer.