Relations between France and Azerbaijan, already greatly degraded by Paris’ support for Armenia, deteriorated even further on the occasion of the 29th.my Climate Conference of the Parties (COP29) taking place in Baku from Monday, November 11. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for the Ecological Transition, announced on Wednesday that she would cancel her trip to the United Nations’ main annual climate meeting.
“The comments made by President Aliev during COP29 against France and Europe are unacceptable. Azerbaijan exploits the fight against climate change for an unworthy personal agendathe minister stated during the session of questions about the government in the Senate. After deliberation and agreement with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, I will not go to Baku next week. »
The situation worsened on Wednesday morning. During a speech at the COP before representatives of the island states, Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, increased attacks against “President Macron’s regime”. “The lessons of the crimes committed by France in these so-called overseas territories would not be complete without mentioning the recent human rights violations by the regime”declared, before accusing the French authorities of having killed 13 people and injured 169 people “during the legitimate protests of the Kanak people in New Caledonia”. The Baku autocrat repeated that France is a country that maintains “under colonial rule” its overseas territories and Corsica, after Azerbaijan has intensified its gestures of support for certain pro-independence figures in recent months.
The accusation by the man from Baku is so strong that it provoked a reaction from the European commissioner in charge of climate negotiations, the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra. “Regardless of bilateral disagreements, the COP should be a place where all parties feel free to come and negotiate on climate action”wrote on the social network “The COP presidency has a particular responsibility to enable and strengthen this”Mr. Hoekstra added, highlighting the “fundamental role” of France in the debates launched against global warming.
Tense context
Mr Aliev also attacked the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in the morning, “Two institutions that have become symbols of political corruption”according to him. The day before, Mr. Aliev had taken advantage of this political forum to defend fossil fuels, “gift from God” and attack the European Union, which would have asked him to “supply more gas”after the energy crisis of 2022, to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, after the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s regime.
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