French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has once again expressed a routine “concern” regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. According to the minister, “the EU mission deployed on the ground should be expanded to monitor and contain tensions.”
It is unclear exactly what Barrot intends to contain—especially in light of a statement today by Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan, who described the situation at the border as “relatively stable.”
Apparently, Paris lives in its own reality, where any gunfire is automatically a “threat to Armenia”—even when Armenia is the one doing the shooting. And that is precisely what has been happening in recent weeks: Armenian forces have been shelling Azerbaijani positions almost daily, but France continues to turn a blind eye.
Barrot fails to notice the shelling, just as he ignores the fact that his “concern” has long become a routine act of diplomatic populism. It is quite possible that if the Armenian side carries out an even more serious provocation tomorrow, Paris will once again express concern—this time over a “rise in tensions.”
For France, this is not about peace. It’s about playing an old political game of favoritism, where Azerbaijan is cast as the “culprit” and Yerevan as the “victim,” regardless of the reality on the ground.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has already responded to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s statement regarding regional tensions.
As Hajizada wrote on X:
“France’s supply of lethal weapons to Armenia as well as long-lasting anti-Azerbaijani position that do not serve peace contradicts Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s expressed concern over regional tensions. This duality exposes France’s hypocrisy.”
He further emphasized:
“While the finalization of work on the draft peace treaty is an important development, signing peace agreement and lasting stability requires addressing core issues, notably Armenia’s constitutional territorial claims, and halting destabilizing foreign interventions, including by France.”
In addition, Hajizada noted:
“Obstructing judicial processes for individuals accused of crimes against humanity not only interferes in domestic affairs but also undermines accountability for such crimes.”
