Azerbaijan accuses France of inciting conflict with Armenia
- 10 October, 05:29
Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev has accused France of creating a new conflict between Baku and Yerevan by sending weapons to its archenemy Armenia.
During a phone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel on October 7, Aliyev said the provision of weapons by France to Armenia was “an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to inflate a new conflict,” adding that if any new conflict occurs in the region, “France would be responsible for causing it.”
The Azerbaijani leader’s comments come after France announced its readiness to sign contracts in the future to ensure Armenia’s defence. Foreign Minister of France Catherine Colonna made a relevant statement on October 3 during a visit to Armenian capital Yerevan. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Azerbaijan’s stance over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, accusing Azerbaijan of “violating the international law”.
Aliyev also refused to attend a EU-hosted meeting in Brussels in late October in protest at France’s recent military and diplomatic moves in support of Armenia. The meeting in Brussels would bring together the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Germany, France and Charles Michel but was cancelled due to the diplomatic row.
