Azerbaijan has already won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics. You were present when judokas Hidayat Heydarov and Zelim Kotsoev won these awards. What emotions did you feel as the Azerbaijani ambassador to France at that moment?
Describing these emotions in words is very difficult. It was a mix of feelings: joy, pride, excitement. After all, this is the most significant event in the world of sports, held every four years. All countries strive to perform as successfully as possible at the Olympics. It is a matter of prestige.
The fact that the Olympics are being held in France holds special significance for us. In the judo competition finals, Azerbaijani athlete Hidayat Heydarov competed against a French opponent. Hidayat’s victory had symbolic significance. Winning against a French athlete in Paris, and in the finals no less, is no small feat. The French love sports, and their passion is palpable in the stands. In such a situation, the opponent is inevitably under significant pressure. One must be very strong and a true professional to overcome this barrier.
Did you believe in Hidayat Heydarov’s victory while in a hall where the French audience fervently supported their judoka?
I never doubted it for a second! The Azerbaijani flag was visible in only two or three places in the hall. We were very few. Outshouting the French crowd was unrealistic. We tried to seize moments when the stands fell silent to shout “Azerbaijan! Hidayat!” I am sure our energy helped our athlete.
What other competitions featuring Azerbaijani athletes do you plan to attend?
I will attend the wrestling tournament and plan to visit the finals involving Azerbaijani boxers. I believe the Paris Olympics will be remembered in Azerbaijani sports history.
How did you find the opening ceremony of the Olympics? It received a lot of criticism.
I watched the opening ceremony on TV. According to the rules set by the French side, the ambassador could be part of his country’s delegation only if led by the head of state or government.
Watching on TV was more convenient as it spared me from the rain. Moreover, TV allowed for a complete view of the event, not just parts of it. I think the opening was unusual. Unlike previous ceremonies, it took place on the Seine River rather than in a stadium. Much attention was given to the history, culture, and art of France. Naturally, elements of French liberalism were present, reflecting French society. The French know how to laugh at themselves, and self-irony was also part of the ceremony.
We are talking in the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in France, which has become the Olympic House during the Games. What is its mission?
Its mission is to promote Azerbaijan through ‘soft power’ during the Olympics. Each day is dedicated to a different sport. Visiting foreign guests have the opportunity to interact with Azerbaijanis – athletes, sports people, diaspora representatives, diplomats, and others. Here, they can listen to Azerbaijani music, taste Azerbaijani cuisine, and get to know our culture. The monument to poetess Khurshudbanu Natavan in our garden is already a great promotion of Azerbaijani culture.
Therefore, foreigners visiting our Olympic House during the Games can discover a different side of Azerbaijan. Most French people form their opinions about Azerbaijan based on media and TV. Unfortunately, some media are running a black PR campaign against Azerbaijan these days, preventing French residents from getting accurate information about our country. The Olympic House of Azerbaijan is visited by French people from various fields – journalists, athletes, diplomats, politicians. Here they have the chance to truly get to know Azerbaijan and feel our country.
You mentioned the black PR campaign by the French media against Azerbaijan. During the opening ceremony broadcast on state TV channel France 2, discriminatory statements were made against Azerbaijan. The International Olympic Committee has apologized for them, but no apology has come from the French side…
Yes, as you noted, we received a letter of apology from the IOC. Simultaneously, following instructions from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the Azerbaijani embassy sent a note of protest to the French Foreign Ministry. To date, there has been no response from the official French structures.
It is no secret that relations between France and Azerbaijan are extremely tense today. What is the Azerbaijani ambassador doing to resolve this?
An ambassador is the official representative of their country. The mission of any ambassador is to facilitate the development of relations between their country and the one they are appointed to. Naturally, I also strive to help improve relations between Azerbaijan and France. All possible means are used for this.
Today, there is a crisis in the relations between the two countries. It affects various spheres. Specifically answering your question, I am attempting to present and convey accurate information about Azerbaijan to French society.
Honestly, it is very difficult to spread accurate information about Azerbaijan through the media. We are only given opportunities to appear on French TV for topics that interest France. Therefore, it is not easy to get on French TV.
When Azerbaijan conducted an anti-terrorist operation in Khankendi last year, this issue was at the forefront of the French press. We were often approached to appear on television. We used such opportunities to present our point of view on several channels.
Thus, working with the media and spreading accurate information about Azerbaijan is a primary task. Secondly, cultural work is important. The center where we are now is one of the excellent tools we have. We regularly hold various events here. For example, we recently organized a screening of a film about the legendary hero of the French Resistance, Akhmediya Jabrayilov, in French. His grandson participated in the screening. The film sparked great interest among the French.
What demands does France make of Azerbaijan? Simply put, what do they want from us? After all, the crisis in relations between the two countries did not arise because of Azerbaijan.
Yes, I fully agree that this situation was not caused by Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev has said this many times. We also say this at all meetings with French officials. Azerbaijan’s reactions are always responses to France’s actions.
There was a time when relations between our countries were at a very high level. France was a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. But unfortunately, after 2020, when Azerbaijan liberated its occupied territories, France’s position changed somewhat. The statement by the French president that “France is with Armenia and always will be” naturally caused a reaction in Azerbaijani society. Yes, the Armenian community in France is strong. We take this factor into account. But being “friends with Armenia” should not mean being against Azerbaijan. It is possible to develop friendly relations with both countries, and we are talking about this. Despite the Armenian diaspora, relations with Azerbaijan can develop.
Azerbaijan today is a leading country in the region. The largest, with the strongest economy. Major projects are being implemented in Azerbaijan. If France wants to be in our region, it must necessarily establish and develop relations with Azerbaijan.
We have repeatedly said: our countries can well do without each other. But partnership relations between Azerbaijan and France existed, they can exist, and they can even develop. The potential for this is great. However, France needs to review its biased position towards Azerbaijan. For this, it is necessary to correctly understand the current situation in our region. I have said this before and will repeat it: the problem is that French officials and French media do not say the phrase “Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan.” We would like to hear that “France respects the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan.” If French officials start using this thesis, it will be reflected in the media and ingrained in people’s minds. I believe that France has accepted the existing reality, but they do not want to voice it.
You emphasized the economic potential of Azerbaijan. In your opinion, why did France lose such a powerful economic partner of many decades in favor of the Armenian adventure?
Again, the factor of the Armenian community must be taken into account. We are talking about 800 thousand people with voting rights. It is not surprising that any political force wishing to gain these votes considers the interests of the Armenian diaspora. There is a choice: support Azerbaijan and lose the votes of the Armenian community, or get the support of the Armenians for the sake of political future but not talk about relations with Azerbaijan. As we see, the second option is more preferable for French political forces.
But if we talk about economic and even just state interests of France, then the priority should be to maintain relations with the main economic power in the region – Azerbaijan. Again, the potential is very large, but it is not being used. And, let’s face it, today’s political crisis affects this. The main task now is for France to stop being biased against Azerbaijan and for our partnership relations to develop.
Is President Macron responsible for today’s crisis, or should the political elite of France be blamed more?
It is probably incorrect to name specific individuals. The fact is that there is a crisis, and it arose because of the actions of the French side. But when we talk today about France’s attitude towards Azerbaijan, it is not about the government or the opposition. Unfortunately, both have formed a position against Azerbaijan. Misinformation is spread about our country. Moreover, the French media misinform the local population both on the topic of Karabakh and on other issues.
French society relies on Armenian narratives, on stories heard from numerous Armenians. 5-6 thousand Azerbaijanis in France cannot resist the flow coming from the Armenian diaspora. But the problem is also that when we express our point of view, spread our information, they do not want to listen to us.
How do the right-wing forces, particularly Marine Le Pen, view the restoration of relations with Azerbaijan?
In the political circles of France, whether it is the government or the opposition, they are against Azerbaijan. Adding the media campaign to this, it inevitably affects the formation of a negative opinion about Azerbaijan in society. But on the other hand, if you go out and ask French people about Azerbaijan, most will not know anything about our country. Because they are busy with their own lives and concerns.
Unfortunately, today French political forces show solidarity against Azerbaijan. What can we do in this situation? We try to spread accurate and truthful information about Azerbaijan both at the embassy level and at the diaspora level.
Can we hope for an improvement in relations after a change of government?
It is difficult to say right now. It depends on who comes to power. A new government means building relationships from scratch. This will require time and the influence of several factors.
What is the position of the left? How close are they to Armenian nationalist circles?
Today in France, both the radical right, the radical left, and centrist forces are pro-Armenian. All are against Azerbaijan. Unfortunately.
