(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Fatima Latifova
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France's policy of arming Armenia and distancing it from the
path of peace leads to the rise of tensions in the South Caucasus.
Armenia's militarization reduces the already low mutual trust
between Baku and Yerevan, increasing the risk of war.
France's military support for Armenia also violates
international law. The former Garabagh conflict should have been
resolved through four UN Security Council resolutions, which
demanded Armenia's withdrawal from the occupied Azerbaijani
territories. Today, France's disregard for these
resolutions by supplying arms to Armenia is naturally against
international law.
It should be noted that Paris's policy of arming Yerevan stems
from the strong influence of the Armenian diaspora in the country.
Unfortunately, the Armenian lobby seems to have more say in
government decisions than the French public. This indicates that
French-Armenian relations are driven by emotion and
unprofessionalism rather than pragmatism.
At a time when peace talks are taking place between Azerbaijan
and Armenia for the first time in 30 years, the French president's
slander against Azerbaijan instead of supporting peace reflects the
country's colonial roots.
While many Western countries, like Hungary and the United
Kingdom, are strengthening their relations with Azerbaijan, France
uses its EU leader status to strain relations with Baku. This step
not only disrupts stability in the South Caucasus but also risks
other EU countries losing a strong partner in the oil and gas
sector, like Azerbaijan.
Despite Armenia's government making peace-oriented moves, it
might initiate provocations against Azerbaijan again with strong
support. History shows that Armenians have engaged in such
duplicitous acts.
No one can guarantee that Pashinyan's government, which accepted
the peace process under the logical thinking brought by defeat,
will not deviate from peace with the support of the US and France.
It is no coincidence that right after the news that the US would
send a representative to the Armenian army, Nikol Pashinyan avoided
meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the 4th European
Political Community summit in Oxford, UK. This shows that the
Armenian government may backtrack on its promises with confidence
derived from any external support.
France takes advantage of this opportunity and aims to expand
its colonial policy in the South Caucasus. Although Paris talks
about peace and stability, it shows double standards by supplying
arms to Armenia. This policy creates a negative perception of
France in the international community and complicates its role as
an objective mediator.
Armenia's economic situation is weak, and France's arming policy
worsens it. The financial resources allocated to armament could
improve the social welfare and economic development of the Armenian
population, potentially reducing the country's dependency on
foreign aid. Additionally, France's military support limits
Yerevan's ability to pursue an independent policy, increasing its
reliance on external influences.
France's military support for Armenia disrupts stability in the
South Caucasus, violates international law, shows double standards,
and harms the economy. While serving short-term political goals,
this policy could harm both Armenia and the region in the long run.
Azerbaijan opposes this policy and condemns every provocative
action.
France justifies arming Armenia amidst the blossoming
situation for peace talks in the region
French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to get out of the
situation with a very strange answer to Azerbaijan's concern about
the rapid arming of Armenia. He connects this with the fact that
Armenia has a sovereign right and tries to prove himself justified
in both arming it and preparing for a new war.
Then a question goes to Mr. Macron:
What is the need to rapidly arm Armenians on the eve of peace
talks in the South Caucasus?
If we go back to thirty years ago, you can better see who was
the invader and who was subjected to invasion during the former
Garabagh conflict. You know very well that the people of Azerbaijan
were the victims of genocide, vandalism, and the destruction of
historical cultural monuments, mosques, and native houses in
Garabagh and beyond.
When did Azerbaijan attack or occupy its historical territory,
Yerevan, Karki, or West Zangazur? Now, in the face of this
question, doesn't the re-arming of Armenia seem like a new invasion
plan of France?
Certainly, Armenia, as well as all the independent states in the
South Caucasus, have a sovereign right to expand their relations,
and every country has the right to strengthen its military
potential by using this right without
contradiction . In addition to being the most reliable
partner of the states in the European Union, Azerbaijan also
balances both Western and Eastern partnerships in the direction of
strengthening its military potential. This partnership serves the
national interests of the country without turning against any
neighbouring state. The thoughts of the French president regarding
Armenia clearly reveal their provocative character. Without a war
and without any preparation or intention for it, official Paris
pushing Yerevan to war and unjustifiably creating a war panic is
more like dragging the region into a new war than supporting
Armenia.
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