France recalls ambassador to Azerbaijan
- 18 April, 10:39
France has recalled its ambassador from Azerbaijan, alleging that actions taken by Baku have harmed their mutual relations. The French Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron had met with Ambassador Anne Boillon in Paris to address what it described as Azerbaijan's ongoing unilateral actions detrimental to the relationship between the two countries.
Macron reportedly sought clarification from Azerbaijan regarding their intentions. In response to France's recall of its ambassador, the spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Aykhan Hajizade, accused France on Wednesday of displaying evident anti-Azerbaijani behavior since 2020. Additionally, Hajizade criticized France for showing bias in its mediation efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, contributing to increased tensions in the area. He also condemned resolutions passed by the French Parliament, citing numerous baseless accusations, insults, and threats against Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Hajizade pointed out France's extensive armament support to Armenia and its promotion of militarism in the region as actions that undermine peace efforts.
Diplomatic row between France and Azerbaijan has heightened since the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, with Baku alleging that France aims to provoke further military tensions in the region by supplying military aid and equipment to Armenia.
In December 2023, both Paris and Baku expelled several diplomats from each other's countries, following Azerbaijan's accusation that France was fueling a diplomatic crisis. Azerbaijani state-backed media outlets reported that Azerbaijan had uncovered a French espionage network operating within its borders at that time.
