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What’s behind the rift between Azerbaijan and France?
Relations between Azerbaijan and France, by no means cordial, have now turn out to be virtually hostile.
The French Senate on Nov. 15 adopted a decision that was strongly biased in favor of Armenia. This was adopted by one other decision, this time by the decrease home of the parliament, adopting the identical line. Neither of the texts have any binding impact, however will nonetheless injury relations between Azerbaijan and France.
In the course of the decrease home debates, French International Minister Catherine Colonna stated that the decision was not binding on the French authorities. Nevertheless, the steps taken by each parliamentary chambers will instantly increase tensions.
One concrete impact of the French transfer might be to weaken the nation’s position as one of many co-chairs of the moribund Minsk Group. Partly due to France’s obstructive perspective, the group, which was set as much as assist negotiate a settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh battle, is thought for having performed all the things to maintain the problem unresolved for nearly 30 years. It was solely due to army motion triggered by the Karabakh and mainland Armenians that the latter suffered a decisive defeat and got here to the brink of complete collapse. Solely a Russian-brokered ceasefire stopped the Azerbaijani military from seizing Xankendi (Stepanakert), the capital of Karabakh, an autonomous area of Azerbaijan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on the file stating that the worldwide group acknowledges Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan. He has emphasised that the Karabakh problem just isn’t a matter of sovereignty, however about defending the rights and freedoms of Armenians residing within the area.
At one stage, it was thought that Charles Michel, president of the European Council, would take the lead. He held intensive talks with each Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Nevertheless, when Russian President Vladimir Putin invited each leaders to Sochi, it was an indication that Russia was taking the reins on the problem.
On Dec. 3, Azerbaijani authorities determined to examine automobiles passing by way of the Lachin hall that hyperlinks Armenia with Karabakh. There was nothing stunning on this, because the authorities had been checking the identification of foreigners coming into their territory. However, automobiles have been held for nearly three hours.
The interference of outdoor actors such because the EU, France, Russia or the US will solely complicate the Azerbaijani-Armenian imbroglio.
Yasar Yakis
These checks had been prevented for the reason that signing of the ceasefire settlement in November 2020 regardless of Azerbaijan’s proper to hold out inspections. Article 6 of the settlement supplied for the development of a street that will bypass the territory of Shusha. This street was going to turn out to be an change of concession for the Zangezur hall that will hyperlink the Nakhichevan exclave to Azerbaijan correct. Nevertheless, Armenia is dragging its ft on the development of this hall.
France has blocked any answer to the Karabakh problem for nearly 30 years and has maintained a destructive perspective for the reason that ceasefire settlement. It should work arduous to be a part of any peace initiative that entails Azerbaijan. France’s distorted logic has turn out to be so excessive that it accused Russia of serving to Azerbaijan, whereas — quite the opposite — Baku claimed that Moscow was serving to Armenian paratroopers to smuggle arms by way of the Lachin hall.
France didn’t cease there. Going past the official Armenian place, the French Senate proposed the proclamation of an impartial state for Armenians in Karabakh. France’s perspective fully disregards the truth that all international locations within the worldwide group, together with Armenia itself, think about Karabakh half and parcel of Azerbaijan.
Now, with the grossly biased perspective of each French parliamentary chambers clearly evident, Aliyev believes there isn’t any level involving France in something associated to the Karabakh problem.
In the meantime, Russia has its personal plans for establishing a everlasting presence within the Caucasus with the intention to preserve Azerbaijani-Armenian battle alive indefinitely.
There are at current two texts to resolve the Karabakh disaster. One was drafted by Russia, the opposite by Azerbaijan. Armenia has added its personal feedback to the Azerbaijani textual content. In different phrases, there may be an indigenous textual content for the answer of the Karabakh drawback. It’s a golden alternative for the straight international locations to have a textual content that they’ll work from. The most effective answer beneath the current circumstances would subsequently be to depart the 2 international locations, Azerbaijan and Armenia, to kind out their issues and not using a third-party involvement.
The interference of outdoor actors such because the EU, France, Russia or the US will solely complicate the Azerbaijani-Armenian imbroglio.
• Yasar Yakis is a former overseas minister of Turkiye and founding member of the ruling AK Get together. Twitter: @yakis_yasar
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers on this part are their very own and don’t essentially replicate Arab Information’ viewpoint
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