(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The
editor-in-chief of the La Gazette du Caucase online newspaper based
in Paris, renowned French journalist Jean-Michel Brun, has
published an article about France 24's biased reporting on
Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
"The piece, titled "What links the absence of French observers
at Azerbaijan's February 7 presidential election, a group
criticizing 'French colonialism,' and an online campaign against
the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris?" establishes its tone by
reiterating three recurring themes in official French discourse:
questioning Azerbaijan's democratic status, contesting accusations
of French neocolonialism, and suggesting that external entities aim
to tarnish France's reputation during a significant event like the
2024 Olympic Games," the article in La Gazette du Caucase
reads.
Jean-Michel Brun questions why the French media has suddenly
become interested in Azerbaijan after ignoring it for many
years.
"Since gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has maintained
excellent relations with France. Recognized for its devotion to
secularism, multiculturalism, and improvements in women's rights,
the country, led by President Heydar Aliyev, successfully weathered
the transition from Soviet rule. The strong cultural ties between
Azerbaijan and France even earned Baku the moniker "Caucasian
Paris." However, in 1992, Armenia, eyeing the resource-rich region
of Karabakh, launched an invasion. In 2020, frustrated by Armenia's
reluctance to negotiate and the Minsk Group's ineffectiveness,
Azerbaijan decided to independently reclaim its territories," the
author explained.
The editor-in-chief of the newspaper highlighted that
concurrently, in France, the Armenian community, particularly its
more nationalist faction, assumed a significant role in both the
political sphere and the media.
"Many political parties, including the ruling party, aligned
with Armenian ultra-nationalist movements, adopting an anti-Baku
stance. This stance ultimately eroded France's influence in the
region. France refrained from participating in the reconstruction
of Karabakh towns devastated by the Armenian occupation, entrusting
the task to British or Italian companies. Major economic projects,
like the construction of the Shafagh power plant, were awarded to
British companies instead of French companies. This tolerant and
rather clueless strategy not only reduced France's influence in
Africa and the Caucasus, but also made her a laughingstock,
abandoning her former allies. Following France's withdrawal, the US
attempted to fill the hole but faced resistance, as Africa appeared
to favor partners it considered more reliable, such as China and
Russia," Jean-Michel Brun noted.
He emphasized that rather than seeking to improve its ties with
Azerbaijan, France continued to bolster its backing for Armenian
separatists. This extended to the extent of promising arms to
Armenia, even as the latter engaged in direct negotiations with its
neighbor.
"Hence, it comes as no surprise that Azerbaijan, formerly the
leader of the Non-Aligned Movement until last year, has opted to
back, via the Baku Initiative, communities fighting against
colonialism and neocolonialism. Among these communities are those
who perceive themselves as victims of French policy, particularly
in the West Indies, Polynesia, and even Corsica," he added.
He remarked that the recent presidential election in Azerbaijan
has presented a significant opportunity for both the French media
and the French Foreign Ministry to resume their criticism of
Baku.
"The foreign and interior ministries are still grappling with
the revelation that two French intelligence agents were caught
attempting to recruit a French businessman, Martin Ryan, residing
in Baku. This incident proved too much for Bernard Émié, the head
of France's foreign intelligence service, who, despite a series of
significant errors, eventually received commendation from French
President Emmanuel Macron. Despite the presence of 790 foreign
observers from 72 international organizations representing 89
countries, "Voice of France" did not hold back on criticizing the
final vote. According to the paper's editors, the absence of French
observers would have rendered the election illegitimate. Any
positive assessment from French observers would have been met with
suspicion. France 24 TV channel echoes the term "caviar diplomacy,"
coined by the Armenian press, which inevitably accuses elected
officials or journalists of corruption if they do not align with
their criticisms of Azerbaijan.
Regarding black caviar, far from being a luxury in Azerbaijan,
the only means to acquire it is through purchase at the exceptional
stores in the old city of Baku. Even the restoration of French
monuments, like Strasbourg Cathedral, funded by Azerbaijan, is
perceived as a method to'strengthen influence in the political and
media realm'," the author said.
He mentioned that France 24 also replicated a report from the
Viginum agency, which claimed that Azerbaijan aimed to "discredit"
the organization of the 2024 Olympic Games through videos and
posts.
"As if we required Baku's assistance for that. The prefect and
president of the Île-de-France region, the police, and the Court of
Audit routinely highlight the amateurish approach to organizing the
Games, particularly noting delays in various areas like security
and transportation. French cartoonists are also taking a humorous
approach, depicting Parisian rats eagerly awaiting the arrival of
tourists. Viginum, characterized as the "French government agency
for protection against foreign digital interference," is actually
an offshoot of the General Secretariat of Defense and National
Security, one of France's numerous intelligence services. Similar
to the Directorate General of External Security responsible for the
Ryan incident, Viginum not only gathers intelligence but also
disseminates "information" of questionable reliability, akin to the
foreign services it accuses of manipulation. Relying on their
communiqués, journalists can indeed find themselves in a dubious
position." Jean-Michel Brun concluded.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's
WhatsApp channel
MENAFN22022024000187011040ID1107888513
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.