BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 14. France's supply of lethal weapons to Armenia and long-lasting anti-Azerbaijani position not serving peace contradicts Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's expressed concern over regional tensions, Spokesperson for Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada wrote on his X page, Trend reports.
"This duality exposes France's hypocrisy. While the finalization of work on the draft peace treaty is an important development, signing a peace agreement and lasting stability require addressing core issues, notably Armenia's constitutional territorial claims, and halting destabilizing foreign interventions, including by France.
Moreover, obstructing judicial processes for individuals accused of crimes against humanity not only interferes in domestic affairs but also undermines accountability for such crimes," the spokesperson said.
To note, France has been significantly involved in Armenia's military expansion since 2020. Beginning in November 2023, France commenced the provision of military equipment to Armenia, encompassing more than 21 units of “Bastion” multi-purpose armored personnel carriers and components from the French “ARQUUS” brand. The "Mistral" short-range surface-to-air missiles and three radar systems are allegedly included in the export inventory. Reports indicate that approximately 50 units of the "VAB MK3" medium-weight, combat-tested armored vehicles may also be included in the contracts. Plus, in June 2024, Yerevan and Paris formalized an agreement for the provision of French-manufactured Caesar self-propelled howitzers to the Armenian military.
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