Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan,
Aykhan Hajizada, has commented on anti-Azerbaijani allegations
voiced by Jean-Noël Barrot at the French Senate on 6 May, rejecting
what it described as unfounded allegations and a distorted
narrative on the Garabagh region. Baku criticised the continued use
of the term “Nagorno-Karabakh” and reaffirmed that the territory is
an integral part of its sovereign state. The statement comes at a
sensitive moment for the South Caucasus, as post-conflict
normalisation efforts gather pace and discussions on long-term
peace intensify. Azerbaijani officials accused Paris of applying
double standards—overlooking the destruction of cultural and
religious heritage during Armenia’s occupation while questioning
Azerbaijan’s current policies. The exchange underscores widening
diplomatic friction between Baku and Paris and highlights deeper
disagreements over sovereignty, historical narratives, and the role
of external actors in shaping the region’s fragile peace
process.
According to AzerNEWS, the official commentary reads:
We firmly reject the anti-Azerbaijan allegations voiced by
France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot,
at the French Senate on 6 May.
The French Minister’s narrative on “Nagorno-Karabakh” in
reference to the Garabagh region—an integral part of Azerbaijan’s
sovereign territory—is unacceptable.
At a time when conditions for lasting peace have been created in
the region following the just war waged by Azerbaijan on its
sovereign territories within the framework of the norms and
principles of international law, we strongly condemn such
provocative statements by the French side, which question
Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over its territories and cast doubt on the
protection of cultural and religious heritage.
It is a clear example of a double standards that the French
Minister, who ignores the destruction of hundreds of mosques and
other cultural heritage sites in the Azerbaijan’s territories
during Armenia’s occupation, comments on the demolition of certain
structures dating back to the occupation period and makes
inappropriate references to the proceedings before the
International Court of Justice.
Historical and religious monuments located in the sovereign
territories of Azerbaijan constitute our national and cultural
heritage and are protected regardless of their origin or religious
or secular affiliation.
The calls by France regarding the deployment of an assessment
mission by UNESCO to Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region are a clear
distortion of realities. It is Azerbaijan that has repeatedly
called for such assessment missions, while unfortunately their
realization has been hindered precisely due to the known obstacles
created by countries such as Armenia and France. This fact was
confirmed by UNESCO’s own 2005 report.
Such statements by the French Minister do not serve for lasting
and sustainable peace in the region.