Asked what effect would the visit of Bako Sahakyan, the leader of the Nagorno-Karabakh separatists, to France have on the mediator image of the country, which is an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, the ambassador replied it depend on from what angle one approaches this issue.
“France has in recent years implemented many initiatives on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Leaving them aside and taking initiatives by the city’s mayors alone, we can say it has had a negative impact on the image. But France has held plenty of events. It’s worth mentioning. I understand Azerbaijan’s concern over Bako Sahakyan’s visit to France. He signs documents on cooperation, and it bothers Azerbaijan. I know that there are some in France who are displeased with this cooperation.
Azerbaijan wants the UN Security Council’s resolutions to be fulfilled. France does not intent to encourage separatism. If some in France have their own initiatives, the government cannot prevent those initiatives. But mayors too must steer clear of this kind of activities. For this reason, the head of the France-Azerbaijan group at the Senate asked the government in a letter to investigate to what degree the documents signed between Bako Sahakyan and mayors comply with the law,” said the ambassador.
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