Former MP: France should follow Europe's example in relations with Azerbaijan

The attitude towards Azerbaijan in the French National Assembly has always been biased, the reason for this was the conflict with Armenia and the actions of the Armenian lobby, former member of the French National Assembly Jerome Lambert said in an interview with EU Reporter, according to Report.

"Of course, I was aware of the historical situation, but I had no idea at the time that here in France – in the National Assembly and the media – there were pressure groups directly intervening to support Armenia’s political positions. Merely showing interest in Azerbaijan seemed suspicious to some, which I had neither anticipated nor accepted, as I was in no way a party to the conflict," he said.

He noted that this hostility towards Azerbaijan strengthened his determination to learn more about Azerbaijan. Lambert made his first visit to Azerbaijan and joined the France-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group.

"Far from discouraging me, these hostile attitudes strengthened my resolve to learn more about Azerbaijan.

This country, which I did not know at first, quickly appeared to me as unique. At the edge of the former Soviet empire, bordering Iran and Armenia, Azerbaijan is a nation open to a complex environment.

A predominantly Muslim society – mainly Shiite – but with a strong secular and tolerant spirit, Azerbaijan has developed a society with many singularities," he noted.

"I soon realized that the harsh criticism directed at Azerbaijan by some was solely linked to the conflict with Armenia. Its supporters used their influence to try to discredit Azerbaijan in the eyes of the French public. This [Karabakh] conflict ended three years ago, but it reignited, in France, a strong resentment within the Armenian diaspora towards Azerbaijan. Armenian associations, structured as real lobbies, launched a defamation campaign to oppose the good relations that France had naturally maintained with Azerbaijan.

In this post-war period, the more the initially difficult dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan began to open a path toward peace, the more the Armenian ultra-nationalists active in France escalated their hostile rhetoric against Azerbaijan.

This is still broadly the situation today in France, where we constantly face attacks and provocations against Azerbaijan and its leaders," he added.

Lambert also positively assessed the peace process between Baku and Yerevan, in particular the agreement on the text of the peace agreement: "However, a reference in the Armenian Constitution, which lays claim to Karabakh, poses difficulties. Nevertheless, beyond historical ‘texts’, everything must now be based on mutual trust between these two nations."

The former MP stressed that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of the EU and is of strategic importance for the stability of the European continent.

"It is in the pursuit of this stability and development that France and Europe must continue to work alongside Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is, of course, a trusted partner for the EU. It is a stable, modern nation with undeniable economic assets. Its geo-strategic position should also contribute to regional stabilization. It should be noted that, apart from France—where a large diaspora of Armenian origin often engages in smear campaigns—our European partners pursue a fully balanced policy towards Azerbaijan. I hope France will follow the example set by the rest of Europe."