Azerbaijan Responds to French Foreign Minister’s Accusations
Baku, The Gulf Observer: In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Aykhan Hajizada, condemned recent remarks made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accusing Azerbaijan of interference in overseas territories.
As reported by the News Hub Consultants, Hajizada addressed the issue on the social media platform X, labeling the comments as an overt attempt to divert attention from France’s failure to address the demands of the indigenous population in New Caledonia.
Hajizada noted that France has a long history of interference in regional affairs and undermining peace and stability processes led by Azerbaijan. He pointed out that the Baku Initiative Group, a non-governmental organization, has worked to expose France’s colonial policies and the challenges faced in its overseas territories. Efforts to discredit the work of such groups, he said, weaken global decolonization efforts.
The spokesperson further criticized France for its actions in New Caledonia, where violent force was used last year, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people and injuries to many others. He argued that instead of addressing these human rights issues, France has resorted to blackmailing Azerbaijan, revealing the shortcomings of its foreign policy strategy.
Additionally, Hajizada condemned France’s misuse of its influence in international organizations to suppress NGO advocacy against neo-colonial policies, stressing that such attempts are futile and counterproductive.
“We resolutely reject and condemn the French Foreign Minister’s anti-Azerbaijani claims,” Hajizada affirmed, calling on France to reflect on its own policies instead of making baseless accusations against Azerbaijan.
