French minister slams Baku’s constitutional demand

PanARMENIAN.Net - On April 2, speaking before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly, Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, emphasized that France was among the first to welcome the conclusion of negotiations on a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He urged that the agreement be signed promptly.

Barrot described as “unacceptable” Azerbaijan’s precondition requiring Armenia to amend its Constitution for the peace treaty’s signing. He stressed that such demands delay the signing process, according to the Embassy of Armenia in France.

He further stated that both France and the European Union are closely monitoring the situation of individuals arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan and are calling for their release within the framework of the ongoing normalization process between the two countries.

“The South Caucasus must become a space of peace and prosperity. The European Union can play a role in opening borders and promoting regional unblocking, to the benefit of local populations. This is why we call for the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity within the framework of the peace process and the treaty that must now be signed between the two countries,” the French minister added.

During a joint press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated that Azerbaijan’s demands to Armenia are clear—dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and amendment of the Armenian Constitution, which allegedly includes territorial claims against Azerbaijan.