Expert: Macron’s pro-Armenian statements directly affect Paris-Baku relations

France must adhere to a neutral policy if it wants to assist the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but this is not happening, Khalid Taimur Akram, executive director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, told Report.

“The assessment should be based on facts and realities if France wants to play the role of a mediator. Such clearly pro-Armenian statements by French President Emmanuel Macron directly affect the bilateral relations between Paris and Baku. I believe that France should use diplomatic means to see the reality and recognize the atrocities that the Armenians did,” he said.

He noted that the international community must remain vigilant and play an active role in order to hold Armenia accountable for its misdeeds and ceasefire violations: “The time has come when all countries in the region should strive for peace, global development and common prosperity.”

Recently, important steps have been taken to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia within the Brussels format. On October 6, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Prague with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron.