(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Fatima Latifova
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This year, the Olympic Games held in France were embroiled in
scandals even prior to its start. The hassle that athletes faced
with accommodation, openly racist actions against a black singer
during the opening ceremony, and the forcible removal of migrants
from Paris demonstrated that France was unfit to host the Olympic
Games.
The reflection of bias against Azerbaijan during the Games was
inevitable. For instance, during the opening ceremony, France-2
television channel broadcast biased statements, leading to
justified discontent from Baku. One of the channel's presenters,
while speaking about Armenian athletes, did not hesitate to say
that the Azerbaijani army had "occupied" Garabagh. The situation in
Paris, where journalists lacking knowledge of geography, politics,
and most importantly history spread false information under the
guise of free media, is ridiculous.
While peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia were ongoing in
the South Caucasus, the French media's provocative behaviour,
especially during the Olympic Games, is unacceptable.
The incitement by the presenters also continued against
Azerbaijani athletes. For example, a media representative referred
to the Azerbaijani team as a "Caucasian republic in territorial
conflict with Armenia" while they were passing by.
Baku is preparing a complaint to the International Olympic
Committee regarding the gross violation of Olympic principles due
to these behaviours. Azerbaijan will also express its
dissatisfaction with Paris through diplomatic channels.
Undoubtedly, the persistence of French bias, even after the
Second Garabagh War, demonstrates how weak the country's principles
of justice and fairness are. Otherwise, the name of an event
promoting unity and peace, like the Olympic Games, would not have
been tarnished.
Furthermore, France's failure to address colonialism, racism,
and Islamophobia-issues that hold a significant place in its
history-while interfering in external conflicts, is another proof
of its double standards.
For 30 years, when Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Armenians
and nearly a million Azerbaijanis became internally displaced,
France and other pro-Armenian states like France did not raise
their voices against this injustice. However, when Azerbaijan
rightfully liberated Garabagh and restored the sovereignty of its
historical lands, baseless accusations and threats first came from
France.
It seems that France has set its goal to highlight Armenia, an
occupying and Islamophobic country, even more than the Armenians
do.
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