BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.19
Trend:
The call for recognition of the independence of Nagorno Karabakh contradicts France's international and bilateral obligations and therefore cannot be accepted by those who respect international law, Jerome Lambert wrote in his letter to protest views of his colleagues from the Socialist Party on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Trend reports.
According to Lambert, France has committed itself to the UN Security Council resolutions, and any new diplomatic position will lead to the recognition of many separatist territories, such as Transnistria (Moldova) or South Ossetia (Georgia), this makes his country return to international obligations.
“The principles of international law established by the resolutions of the UN Security Council must remain our compass in relation to Nagorno Karabakh. Moreover, this is the unchanging position of French diplomacy for decades,” he noted.
Protesting against the text on the situation in Nagorno Karabakh at the National Bureau of the Socialist Party of France, the MP called on French politicians not to obey the dictates of a group of Armenian extremists, to be careful when making any decisions and think about their consequences.
He also pointed out that the views of his colleagues on Nagorno Karabakh completely contradict the international and bilateral obligations of France, and also violate a number of principles of international law, in particular, the principle of inviolability of borders.
The MP reminded the fact of recognition of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Nagorno Karabakh and other territories, occupied by Armenia since 1993, by the UN, as well as the essence of the Treaty of Friendship, Understanding, and Cooperation, signed between France and Azerbaijan in December 1993.
He said that the principles of international law enshrined in the UN Security Council resolutions must remain a mandatory foundation for the position on Nagorno Karabakh.
Lambert also stressed that France must fulfill its obligations undertaken at the international level and not threaten the media, not put pressure on the relevant structures, as well as election-related officials, even under pressure from the influential French community of Armenian origin.
"I receive thousands of messages with insults and threats against my family members, including death threats. All these insults and threats are aimed at dissuading me from reminding the position of French diplomacy," the MP wrote.
As he emphasized, although he is aware of the ties of some employees of the polling authorities with the Armenian community, the Socialist Party mustn’t be appropriated by the Armenians who constantly make nationalist statements, ignoring international law.
"If we want France to take a worthy diplomatic position in this and other parts of the world, we mustn’t accept and pay attention to the views dictated by the essentially rather extremist Armenian group. If we don’t want a ceasefire, what do we want instead?! Eternal war? " Lambert wrote addressing his colleagues and calling on them to ensure peace and prosperity to the inhabitants of the region within the framework of international law.
Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia.
A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were introduced at 00:00 hours (Moscow time) on 10 November 2020.
Armenian Armed Forces launched a large-scale military attack on positions of the Azerbaijani army on the front line, using large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery on Sept. 27. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-offensive along the entire front.
Back in July 2020, the Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire in the direction of Azerbaijan's Tovuz district. As a result of Azerbaijan's retaliation, the opposing forces were silenced. The fighting continued the following days as well. Azerbaijan lost a number of military personnel members, who died fighting off the attacks of the Armenian Armed Forces.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, the Armenian Armed Forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.