“The offensive must end immediately and discussions about the rights and safety of the residents must be resumed,” wrote the President of the Republic on X this Tuesday evening.
The situation is critical in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, a predominantly Armenian territory claimed by Azerbaijan. Baku launched a military offensive on Tuesday, three years after the previous war, demanding the surrender of its Armenian opponent. An operation denounced by the President of the French Republic.
“Strongest condemnation of Azerbaijan’s use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh,” writes Emmanuel Macron on X, ex-Twitter.
“The offensive must end immediately and discussions on the rights and safety of residents must resume. “I remain in close contact with Prime Minister Pashinian,” said the tenant of the Élysée this Tuesday evening.
During a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Emmanuel Macron also called for “an immediate resumption of talks to find a solution to the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, to achieve a just and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and rights and security.” “to ensure the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the commitments undertaken and international law,” said the French Presidency.
A few hours earlier, the Quai d’Orsay had “strongly condemned the start of a military operation by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh” in a press release and denounced the use of heavy weapons “there, including against inhabited areas.”
At least 27 dead
“France calls on Azerbaijan to immediately stop its offensive and return to respect for international law. It will hold Azerbaijan solely responsible for the fate of the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh,” we could read.
Amid Paris’ condemnation of an “illegal, unjustified and unacceptable” operation, Baku condemned France’s “Islamophobic and anti-Azerbaijani policies.”
According to the separatists, the fighting left at least 27 dead, including two civilians, and more than 200 injured in this region, where some 7,000 residents of 16 towns were evacuated. For its part, Azerbaijan reported that two civilians died in the areas under its control.