Baku Conference Examines France’s Role in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict

In a pointed discussion on the legacy of French diplomacy in the South Caucasus, an international conference convened in Baku on Friday to assess France’s role in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The event, organized by the Center for the Analysis of International Relations, highlighted long-standing grievances over what many in Azerbaijan see as Paris’s historical bias in favor of Armenia.

The conference, titled “France and the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict,” brought together Azerbaijani lawmakers, academics, and foreign experts to analyze France’s diplomatic history in the region. Central to the discussion was France’s tenure as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, a mediation platform that ultimately failed to resolve the conflict before war erupted again in 2020.

France’s Legacy in Mediation

“France was once engaged in the mediation process, yet its peace efforts proved ineffective for 26 years,” said Gulshan Pashayeva, a member of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (Parliament) and a board member of the Center for the Analysis of International Relations. She underscored the influence of the Armenian diaspora in France—estimated at 600,000 people—and the presence of pro-Armenian lobbying structures that, she argued, shaped French policies toward Azerbaijan.

Christian Vallard, a professor of public law at the University of Côte d'Azur, acknowledged France’s initial efforts to maintain neutrality in the conflict. He pointed to France’s support for the 2005 PACE resolution on Azerbaijan’s occupied territories as evidence of a more balanced approach in earlier years. However, he noted a shift in policy under recent administrations.

“Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac maintained relatively stable relations with Azerbaijan,” Vallard said. “But the dynamic changed with Emmanuel Macron’s presidency, particularly after his 2018 visit to Armenia—without making a corresponding trip to Azerbaijan.”

The Crisis in Relations

According to Farid Shafiev, chairman of the Center for Analysis of International Relations, the diplomatic rift between Baku and Paris has deepened in recent years, though economic and energy cooperation continues. “France itself became the cause of this crisis,” Shafiev said. “The Armenian factor plays a major role in this deterioration, yet Azerbaijan was not the initiator of these tensions.”

While acknowledging historical ties between Azerbaijan and France—including cultural exchanges and longstanding intellectual engagement—MP Tural Ganjaliyev argued that France’s policy shift coincided with Azerbaijan’s growing geopolitical assertiveness. “Since 2003, as Azerbaijan pursued a stronger foreign policy, France’s attitude toward our country changed,” he said. “The strengthening of Azerbaijan unnerved the Armenian diaspora in France, which in turn influenced French political discourse.”

Ganjaliyev added that since Macron took office, France has become more overtly critical of Azerbaijan. “Previously, opposition to Azerbaijan was expressed behind closed doors,” he said. “But after 2020, France began to openly challenge Baku on the international stage.”

Azerbaijan’s Cultural Ties with France

Despite political tensions, speakers at the conference noted Azerbaijan’s ongoing engagement with French culture. Gil Michaeli, director of Conflicts magazine, cited the Baku French Lyceum and Azerbaijan’s investments in opera and cultural projects as indicators of the country’s appreciation for French heritage.

Michaeli also discussed the role of the Armenian diaspora in France, which expanded its influence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Over time, he said, Armenian lobby groups successfully pushed the Karabakh issue onto the international agenda, shaping French policies.

Historical Grievances

The conference’s more critical voices highlighted what they described as France’s failure to address Azerbaijani suffering during the conflict. Mammadaga Bakhyshov, a professor at Baku State University, accused France of turning a blind eye to the displacement of over a million Azerbaijanis and of failing to acknowledge events such as the 1992 Khojaly massacre.

“When Khojaly was attacked, France remained silent,” Bakhyshov said. He also argued that France’s involvement in the OSCE Minsk Group was ineffective, claiming that Paris used the conflict to maintain influence in the region. “France’s so-called observer mission under the EU umbrella today serves as a tool to expand its prestige in the South Caucasus,” he said.

Expectations

While the conference largely focused on France’s perceived missteps, some speakers emphasized the need for future cooperation. As Shafiev noted, economic ties between the two nations remain intact, particularly in the energy sector.

However, with France increasingly positioning itself as a vocal critic of Azerbaijan, the question remains whether diplomatic relations can be mended. As Azerbaijan looks to build new partnerships in Europe and beyond, the legacy of French mediation continues to be a subject of intense debate in Baku.

View from Paris

Official Paris actively responds to criticism from the Azerbaijani authorities regarding French policy on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and anti-French actions. In April 2024, France recalled its ambassador from Azerbaijan for consultations, citing Baku’s "unilateral actions" that harmed bilateral relations. In response, Azerbaijan accused France of destructive activities and attempts at pressure.

Furthermore, in December 2023, Azerbaijan declared two employees of the French embassy persona non grata, accusing them of activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. France rejected these accusations and expelled two Azerbaijani diplomats in retaliation.

In November 2024, relations between the two countries reached a new crisis when French President Emmanuel Macron did not attend COP29 due to heightened tensions. France supported Armenia in its territorial conflict with Azerbaijan, including military cooperation and arms supplies. In response, Azerbaijan launched a media campaign against France and arrested several French citizens on charges of espionage and politically motivated crimes.

Thus, official Paris does not ignore Azerbaijan's criticism and actions, taking diplomatic steps and expressing concern over the deterioration of bilateral relations.