Official Paris: France does not recognize the self-proclaimed RNK

Baku/27.11.20/Turan: the Official representative of the French foreign Ministry made a statement at a briefing on November 26 in connection with the Senate resolution calling for the recognition of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by the French authorities.

The foreign Ministry statement notes that in the debates leading up to the vote, Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State for tourism, French overseas territories and La francophonie, reiterated the French government's position on this issue: France does not recognize the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Our responsibility as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group is to work towards a negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including on the question of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the outcome of this negotiation cannot be determined beforehand and unilaterally. Our priority today must be to ensure the safe return of those displaced as a result of the conflict in recent weeks. In his address to the Senate, the secretary of State also noted that no state has so far recognized Nagorno-Karabakh.

A responsible country, faithful to its values and its commitment to peace, France remains determined in this framework to see a lasting settlement of the conflict, with demands for security and dignity for the peoples of the region. France will continue to make every effort to stabilize the situation in the South Caucasus. It will remain committed, within the relevant framework of the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group, to making progress on all parameters still to be negotiated following the ceasefire agreement reached on 9 November, including the departure of foreign mercenaries deployed during the conflict or the protection of the historical and cultural heritage of the region.

We also recall the structured humanitarian aid action undertaken by France for the benefit of the populations affected by the conflict, and described in the communiqué of the Ministry of Europe and foreign affairs of 22 November. To the question "The Azerbaijani parliament proposed to exclude France from the Minsk Group. What is your answer to this?", the foreign Ministry representative replied: "I refer you to my statement today on Nagorno-Karabakh."-0-