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Baku-Paris relations now at their lowest level ever, top Azerbaijani diplomat says

According to Jeyhun Bayramov, the main reason for the current tensions is that Paris "has made the Azerbaijani-Armenian agenda an integral part of its relations with Azerbaijan"

BAKU, December 28. /TASS/. Relations between Baku and Paris are currently at their lowest level, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said.

"The situation is such that today relations are at the lowest level in 30 years of their existence. This is a fact," the top diplomat said at a press conference summarizing the results of the year in the sphere of diplomacy. According to him, Azerbaijan is not responsible for this situation. "Azerbaijan has never given priority to straining relations with France or taking any steps against it. On the contrary, the Azerbaijani side made efforts and took real steps to develop relations," he pointed out.

According to Bayramov, the main reason for the current tensions is that Paris "has made the Azerbaijani-Armenian agenda an integral part of its relations with Azerbaijan." The foreign minister pointed out that France has always been biased on the issue, secretly supporting Armenia. However, as as a mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, it "masterfully hid" it for a long time. "This was the case until 2020. After Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, France could no longer hide its pro-Armenian position, and that is when the first blows were dealt to bilateral relations," the top Azerbaijani diplomat added.

He emphasized that in recent years France has not limited itself to supporting Armenia, but in most cases has put forward anti-Azerbaijani initiatives at international platforms.

Commenting on the prospects of normalization of bilateral relations, Bayramov said that it depends on Paris. According to him, it is possible "if France seriously reconsiders and changes its policy towards Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus."

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