Sadly, today’s France is a mere ghost of that past. The writers are gone — replaced by hacks. Hacks who seek material benefits through the easiest and vilest route: slander.
Slander — the sharpest weapon of cowards, scoundrels, and traitors — is not only tolerated in today’s France, it is rewarded. Some are even elected to the National Assembly.
It is well known that France has a peculiar attitude toward Azerbaijan. Anti-Azerbaijani resolutions have become a routine activity in Paris. French deputies were especially active in this regard during the 44-day war and the counterterrorism operation in Karabakh in 2023.
And yet, all these resolutions ultimately proved as worthless as a used roll of toilet paper.
Nevertheless, France persists — desperately trying to portray itself as an influential player in the South Caucasus. This, despite the fact that President Emmanuel Macron, with direct involvement from Baku, was unceremoniously thrown out of the region’s political arena.
But the French are astounding in their arrogance and shamelessness. After being politically humiliated by Baku, France is far from finished.
Now, the French National Assembly (yes, seriously!) is demanding… the release of Armenian war criminals. According to Armenian media, a new resolution has been introduced in the French Parliament calling on Azerbaijan to free the arrested “leaders of Artsakh” (quotation marks by Minval) and other prisoners held in Baku.
The document goes even further, accusing Azerbaijan of pursuing a policy that constitutes not just imprisonment, but the systematic extermination of the Armenian population in “Artsakh,” as well as the destruction of Armenian historical, cultural, and religious heritage in areas under Azerbaijani control.
They are demanding — with the same audacity as a century ago, when they demanded rights and freedoms. Only now they demand the release of those who violated rights and laws on foreign soil.
Absurd? Of course. But this is 21st-century France — where anything is possible.
So here’s a counterproposal. Following this twisted logic, maybe the Milli Majlis should immediately adopt a mirror resolution of its own?
For example: demand that France release all Arab terrorists currently imprisoned in its jails. Why not? France never misses a chance to lecture others on “humanism,” “human rights,” and “international law.”
Or is it that an Arab, to the French, is a terrorist and a criminal — but an Armenian terrorist is just an innocent “hay”?
Naturally, Paris would never agree to such a demand. And of course, our parliament would never stoop to such an immoral and absurd gesture — to defend terrorists and criminals.
But clearly, France applies different standards when it comes to terrorism. Arabs are labeled terrorists. Armenians — whose crimes often surpass those of their “colleagues” — are supposed to walk free.
In short, French parliamentary resolutions are not the voice of reason, nor are they politics or diplomacy. They are political graphomania.
Alas, there is no spirit of Enlightenment left. No romance. No philosophy. Just a dirty, paid-for spectacle — reeking of Armenian money and parading as “French democracy.”
All because France refuses to acknowledge one simple truth: the world has changed. In the East, there are now countries that don’t ask — they decide. Countries that no longer seek permission from former colonizers to live their own lives. Azerbaijan is not a French department. And it is under no obligation to take orders from the banks of the Seine.
Fakhri Akifoglu
