May 3, 2002 - 00:15 AMT
THEY IN AZERBAIJAN THINK JACQUES CHIRAC'S VICTORY AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN FRANCE TO BRING TO PARIS "PROARMENIAN" POLICY ACTIVATION
The political elite of Azerbaijan is worried with Jacques Chirac's reelection perspective. In Baku they are convinced that unavoidable victory at the second tour of the elections will bring to most activation of official Paris pro-Armenian policy. Particularly Baku political expert Gabil Huseyni thinks due to efforts of Chirac's administration, France has the position contrary to Azeri interests in the OSCE Minsk group. "The Minsk group representatives speak about new proposals on Karabakh conflict settlement but it is already known that the new principles will have pro-Armenian direction", the political expert claims. Huseyni reminds France "has become the first state that recognized the Armenian genocide in legal form, opened Nagorno-Karabakh representative office, received NKR foreign minister". He expressed worries regarding the Armenian genocide issue "popularization" at the Council of Europe with the support of France. That is why Huseyni thinks Azeri foreign policy has to be directed toward neutralization of possible steps of France in this direction.