Ukrainian politicians on French mayor: Armenian diaspora is behind him

Recently, France's biased position against Azerbaijan has attracted the attention of world politicians. In particular, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a phone call to the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, and expressed support for territorial integrity, the French city hall of Vienne lowered the flag of Ukraine, which it had raised last year, in protest, which caused the regret of Ukrainian politicians, Report informs.

Yury Kamelchuk, a member of the ruling People's Servant Party of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, told the Eastern Europe Bureau of Report that such bias of French politicians against the sovereignty of Azerbaijan saddens him and his colleagues: “It is unfortunate for us to see sometimes different prejudiced interpretations against the territorial sovereignty of countries whose borders are recognized by all the members of the UN, as well as by various European resolutions. This time, we see such a position from the mayor of Vienne, France. Will this situation change in the future? Yes. I think so because no one can go against international principles. But at the moment, this is only the position of the French, the mayor of that city. As for lowering the Ukrainian flag, this is not France's position. This may be due to the mayor's lack of understanding of world politics. Azerbaijan fought for its independence and achieved it. Azerbaijan was invaded by Armenia and our friends (Azerbaijani-author) had a problem like Karabakh. It has already been resolved. It just needs to be understood. At present, Azerbaijan has liberated its legal sovereign territories recognized by all UN countries from occupation.”

Political analyst Maksim Yali told Report that the Armenian diaspora is behind this: “Such statements and actions of the mayor of the city of Vienne are treated cautiously by the official Kyiv. First, these statements do not reflect reality. So, according to the claims, Azerbaijan supplies Russian natural gas to Ukraine as part of energy assistance. Moreover, it is allegedly sold to Ukraine 1.5 times more expensive. This is a white lie. The mayor of the French city does not understand that there is no common natural gas supply network between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Azerbaijan's aid, which Ukraine highly appreciates, is related to oil and oil products. This is very important for us to avoid the energy crisis.

Moreover, it is also possibly used to meet the fuel needs of Ukrainian military equipment. In short, the supply of energy resources from Azerbaijan is one of the important directions of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. Of course, official Kyiv appreciates it. Secondly, it is necessary to understand that such statements are local. This is actually related to the internal politics of France. Because many Armenians live in this prefecture of France. Presumably, the Armenian diaspora is behind these statements. Because they are the sponsors of this politician. Their aim is to damage our bilateral relations. The reason why we do not pay attention to such statements is that they do not affect bilateral relations between France and Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron did not make a statement about it. We receive both financial and military aid from this country.”

Of course, if such statements were made by high-ranking French officials, it would be perceived as interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine. The French President's Administration understands this well. Although the Armenian lobby has a strong position in France, it does not affect the relations between the two countries. The reason for criticism by the mayor of a small French town was precisely the statements of Ukraine and Azerbaijan about the support of each other's territorial integrity. However mutual positions between Azerbaijan and Ukraine are based on international law. Even Armenia has declared that it recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan over Karabakh. In short, the statements of the mayor of the city of Vienne are only propaganda.”