No:409/20, Press Release of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the statement of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France dated November 10, 2020

Statement of Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France on the statement signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the President of the Russian Federation on the cessation of all military operations is completely biased and contrary to its mandate as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

We should mention that the French Foreign Minister, with the statement that reflects a unilateral and clearly pro-Armenian position, has no authority to speak on behalf of the other co-chairs.

Unfortunately, we have not observed the French Foreign Minister making any statements during all these years based on its mandate as the co-chair and the country that voted as a permanent member of UN SC in favor of 1993 resolutions, on the implementation of the related UN Security Council resolutions.

We do not remember when the demand for an immediate end to the illegal presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan and the return of those forcibly expelled from these territories was voiced by the French Foreign Ministry.

Maybe France is not interested in the gross violation of fundamental human rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis as a result of the conflict?!

France should not be concerned about Azerbaijan's legitimate efforts to ensure the country's territorial integrity within its international borders and restore the human rights of more than one million Azerbaijanis in full compliance with international law.