Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, through his foreign policy advisor, has asserted that Paris is contributing to instability, not only in its former and current colonies but also in the South Caucasus. Aliyev claims that France is supporting separatist trends and separatists in the region, further complicating the territorial conflict.
France, home to a significant Armenian diaspora, faces regular criticism from Baku for allegedly harboring a “pro-Armenian bias” in the territorial conflict involving Caucasus countries.
Despite international mediation efforts, peace talks between the ex-Soviet republics, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, have shown limited progress. Both leaders have expressed optimism about the possibility of signing a comprehensive peace agreement by the end of the year. The talks have been facilitated by the European Union, with several rounds of discussions between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
However, tensions escalated last month when President Aliyev refused to attend negotiations with Prime Minister Pashinyan in Spain, citing what he perceived as French bias. The scheduled mediators for those talks included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and EU chief Charles Michel.
The situation underscores the complex dynamics at play in the South Caucasus, with geopolitical influences and historical allegiances playing a crucial role in the ongoing territorial dispute. The international community continues its efforts to mediate and facilitate a lasting resolution between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
