Member of the Milli Majlis Soltan Mammadov who chairs the Azerbaijan-France inter-parliamentary connexions working group has written letters to President of the Senate of the French Parliament Gérard Larcher and Head of the France-Caucasus Friendship Group of the Senate Alain Houpert.

The letters say that the update about Mr Larcher's meeting with Armenian Parliament Speaker Alain Simonyan, which the former had shared on his Twitter feed, was met with public surprise and serious discontent in Azerbaijan. Gérard Larcher's demand for the urgent opening of the Lachin Road connecting the Garabagh Region, an integral part of Azerbaijan, with Armenia, as well as France's call for accelerating supplies of defence weapons to Armenia in order to ‘ensure the security’ of this country are perceived as an attempt to aggravate the situation in the region once more.

It is also noted with regret that the statements of the President of the French Senate should coincide temporally with the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, mediated by the United States and the Council of the European Union, on a number of moot issues, and the significant progress in high-level peace talks, demonstrating the commitment of Armenia and Azerbaijan alike to the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. In addition, both states declared mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. At such a delicate time, just when great hopes are pinned on achieving sustainable peace in the South Caucasus, the statements of the high-ranking representative of France serve no useful purpose but can only give rise to new contradictions and tensions.

According to Soltan Mammadov, the allegation by the Head of the French Senate of the blockade of the Lachin Road does not reflect reality. The European Court of Human Rights rejected Armenia's demand for a temporary regime for this road with its decision issued a few days ago, ruling that the checkpoint operating there does not prevent traffic on the Road. Besides, the ECHR found that our country does not violate the court verdict dated 21 December 2022.

The messages of MP Mammadov further note that despite Armenia's military provocation causing the wounding of an Azerbaijani serviceman on 15 June, and in spite also of attempts by the Armenian side to smuggle various supplies intended for illegal activities by convoys of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), humanitarian goods as well as individuals and vehicles used for medical evacuation pass along the Lachin border-customs point unimpeded.

The letter further deplores France's continued disregard for the fact that Armenia had been planting mines in Azerbaijani territories in violation of international conventions, which has had more than 300 people, mostly civilians, became victims of explosions after the war.

MP Mammadov urges Mr Larcher, and does so on behalf of the members of the Milli Majlis WG for Azerbaijani-French inter-parliamentary connexions, to refrain from steps and initiatives that do not contribute in any way to the creation of an atmosphere of peace, stability and co-operation in the South Caucasus, but may harm Azerbaijani-French relations, which have deep roots and cover a wide thematic spectrum.

The letter to Mr Houpert stresses that the views of the President of the French Senate caused sincere incomprehension in Azerbaijani society. After all, great hopes were pinned on achieving sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. The battle cries and calls to arms emanating from a high-ranking representative of the French Republic do not at all serve the safe, free and prosperous future of our peoples.

MP Mammadov writes that the partnership between Azerbaijan and France, covering many areas and stemming from common interests of the two nations, has been damaged recently. MP Soltanov stresses the necessity for the friendship groups of the parliaments of both countries to continue their efforts to restore the atmosphere of mutual trust. He also expresses his confidence that the French Senator appreciates the ties between France and Azerbaijan, those deeply rooted in history, and therefore will mobilise all possibilities and do his best to convey the legally justified and fair position of Azerbaijan to the French public, leadership and members of the Senate.

Finally, but equally importantly, the Head of the Milli Majlis Azerbaijan-France WG emphasises that at such a fragile time as now the expectations of the international community and of politicians from different countries who hold high government positions and can influence public opinion, including French politicians, should not be reduced to calls for war but, rather, should help find the right formula for peace, co-operation and coexistence.

The Press and Public Relations Department  
The Milli Majlis