Spokesperson: France unfairly blames Azerbaijan while ignoring its own colonial past

Azerbaijan has firmly rejected recent allegations made by Manuel Valls, the French Minister for the Overseas, accusing the country of interference in French overseas territories and “ethnic cleansing” in Karabakh. 

The accusations, made during Valls' visit to New Caledonia on February 28, 2025, have been met with strong opposition from Baku, Caliber.Az reports, citing Foreign Ministry.

Aykhan Hajizada, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, responded to the claims, calling them “unfounded” and part of a broader effort by France to divert attention from its own foreign policy struggles.

He said, “We firmly reject the views expressed by the French side, which, instead of learning from its failed foreign policy, is trying to divert public attention from the difficult situation it is in by accusing our country with unfounded allegations.”

Hajizada went on to criticise France’s colonial history, claiming that Azerbaijan adheres to international law in its foreign policy while accusing France of continuing its colonial past. “Although France unfairly blames Azerbaijan, which, unlike France, is guided by the fundamental norms and principles of international law in its foreign policy and in all its steps, everyone remembers this country’s undemocratic acts to continue its colonial past against different nations and peoples,” he added.

On the specific charge of “ethnic cleansing” in Karabakh, Hajizada questioned the consistency of France’s stance. “Accusations of ‘ethnic cleansing’ by France against Azerbaijan, in the context of their historical involvement in the Minsk process and their failure to condemn the displacement of nearly 1 million Azerbaijanis due to Armenia’s occupation policy, is quite strange,” he said. 

He further stated that the claims regarding the voluntary departure of people from Karabakh being “ethnic cleansing” were a distortion of facts, calling the allegations “hypocrisy.”

In conclusion, the spokesperson called on France to cease what he termed an unjustified "fake campaign" against Azerbaijan, demanding an end to the accusations. “We demand the French side to stop this unjustified fake campaign against our country,” Hajizada said.

The diplomatic row between Azerbaijan and France continues to escalate as both sides engage in a war of words over the complex situation in the South Caucasus.

By Aghakazim Guliyev