The master of the Élysée Palace announced that he would talk to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan this week and launch a “new diplomatic initiative” in the international arena designed to “increase pressure” on Baku.
Macron did not specify what kind of initiative it was. Nor did he make it clear whether he meant the new UN Security Council resolution, which Figaro journalist Buisson, known for his pro-Armenian sentiments, had promised his readers. And he certainly did not reveal any details as to what kind of “pressure” on Azerbaijan he was going to talk about.
It seems that once again the current master of the Élysée Palace will have to be educated on how politics in the South Caucasus works and how it does not. As President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized, no one cannot speak with Azerbaijan in the language of pressure, blackmail and threats. Many states have tried to try something similar, but the result has always—ALWAYS!—turned out to be the opposite of what was expected. As for Emmanuel Macron’s promise to “talk to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan this week”, we have to disappoint the head of the Fifth Republic once again: Azerbaijan will not compromise its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security in order to secure the votes of French Armenians for Monsieur Macron. It is all the more unclear what kind of mind-blowing “pressure on Azerbaijan” France can exert. First of all, not so long ago, Paris failed even to prevent the participation of EU ambassadors in a trip to the Aghdam-Khankendi road.
Secondly, and most importantly, if Macron is so decisive, influential and agile, then he should try to put pressure on, say, Niger, from where the French ambassador is being shoved out in a not very diplomatic manner. Or on Mali and Burkina Faso, where French military bases and troops have been shown the door. Or better yet, try to restore order in his own country. Then he can puff up his cheeks and play Napoleon. After all, one may end up with an embarrassing accident when straining oneself too much to accomplish an obviously impossible task.
