How will relations between Baku and Paris develop during France's EU presidency?

Baku/28.01.21/Turan: In the evening on January 27, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zachary Gross gave a reception in connection with France's accession to the duties of the EU presidency, which passed to it on a rotation basis on January 1.

Zachary Gross said that President Macron defined the goal of the French presidency as "a transition from cooperation within European borders to a Europe influential in the outside world, fully sovereign, free in its choice, master of its own destiny."

The Ambassador assured that within the framework of Azerbaijan-France and Azerbaijan-EU partnership, Paris during its presidency will make every effort to restore peace and unity in the South Caucasus.

"Let's continue the France-Azerbaijan and European Union-Azerbaijan partnership and make 2022 the year of rebirth of peace and unity in the South Caucasus," the ambassador urged.

Noting the high level of EU-Azerbaijan relations, Zakhar Gross recalled that the Eastern Partnership summit held in December last year gave a new impetus to EU-Azerbaijan cooperation. He also expressed hope that the strategic partnership agreement would be signed soon.

How will relations between Baku and Paris develop during France's EU presidency?

Political commentator Ahmed Alili answers these and other questions in the program "Difficult Question".

According to him, important processes are taking place in the South Caucasus region, and the role of France, which represents the EU, will be important in them.

“Recently, we witnessed an interview with the country's President Ilham Aliyev to the media. Speaking about France, he spoke quite neutrally. Although during the war, a number of representatives of the French establishment and President Emmanuel Macron himself came out with pro-Armenian positions. However, subsequently, there were positive messages addressed to Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani side is ready to appreciate this. By the way, the President of Azerbaijan noted this in his interview,” Alili said, emphasizing that for a correct assessment of the current moment, the signals sent during this interview are important.

As for the position of France, according to the political scientist, in the future its position will be closer to Azerbaijan than the position of the EU as a whole.

“Yes, even today its position is different from the one it adhered to during the 44-day war. Business circles in France are interested in cooperation with the countries of the South Caucasus and today 60% of French investments in the South Caucasus are in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is the main consumer of the French military-industrial complex and high technologies. And in a number of sectors of the economy, the two countries are successfully cooperating,” Alili explained.

He also noted that after the UK left the EU, France represents the EU in the UN Security Council and is a permanent member of this structure, therefore Azerbaijan is also interested in France.

“Therefore, regardless of the position and ambitions of individual politicians, relations between Azerbaijan and France will be positive,” the observer is sure.--0--