ISTANBUL

Azerbaijan on Monday accused France of “hypocrisy” regarding its position on current border tensions in the South Caucasus after remarks by the French foreign minister.

Earlier in the day, Jean-Noel Barrot, ahead of an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, told reporters that Paris is concerned about the growing tensions on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, expressing hope that the EU’s mission will grow in size to observe and contain the tensions.

Barrot also called for the signing of the finalized peace deal between the two countries, and for the release of what he described as “arbitrary detainees.”

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said on X that France’s supply of weapons to Yerevan, as well as its “long-lasting anti-Azerbaijani position that do not serve peace,” and contradicts Barrot's concerns over regional tensions.

“This duality exposes France's hypocrisy,” Hajizada said, arguing that the signing of the peace deal and lasting stability in the region requires addressing “core issues,” particularly Armenia’s constitution, which Baku has stressed contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

He said the halting of “destabilizing foreign interventions,” including by France, was another matter in this regard.

“Moreover, obstructing judicial processes for individuals accused of crimes against humanity not only interferes in domestic affairs but also undermines accountability for such crimes,” he added.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh – a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan – and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a 44-day war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement that opened the door to normalization and demarcation talks.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh after separatist forces in the region surrendered.

In March, Baku and Yerevan said reached a consensus on a peace agreement, but since then both countries have accused each other of cross-border attacks.