The current situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenian border in the direction of Kalbajar and Lachin is still tarnished. 

Azerbaijan Armed Forces have advanced their positions to the areas at the vicinity of Garagol lake at the border with Armenia in the framework of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

Armenian media sources have spread misinformation as if Azerbaijan border troops violated the territorial integrity of Armenia. 

However, according to the historical documents signed between the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijani SSR in the Soviet period, the half of Garagol area was part of the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan SSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the period of the First Karabakh War, this part of the border of Azerbaijan came under the Armenian occupation.

Azerbaijani Border Forces act within the framework of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan in accordance with these historical documents.

Armenia has tried to bring its concerns over the disputed areas at the border with Azerbaijan to the attention of international community. Meanwhile, the Co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group have also shown the attitude on the issue of the tension.

While the United States and Russia have preferred to keep neutral position in this issue, France has supported Armenia. Thus France at the presidential level has demonstrated solidarity with Armenia.

The President of France Emmanuel Macron tweeted; “Azerbaijani Armed Forces have crossed into the territory of Armenia. They must withdraw immediately. Once again I say Armenian people, France is in solidarity with you and will continue to do,”

With tweeting this, the leader of the Co-Chair country of the Minsk Group violated the commitment of its mediation mission in the solution of the long-term conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Speaking to Eurasia Diary, Patrick Walsh, Irish historian and expert on international relations, made comments on France’s conventional policy reflecting the unfair and biased support to Armenia and its aggression.

He said that France’s stance towards the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is much alike of its acts in the period of Crusades.

“For centuries France has regarded itself as defender of Christians in the Near East. This attitude dates back to the time of the Crusades when the Franks were the most prominent in Crusader ranks. The Crusades were a bloodthirsty affair with massacres of Muslims,” P.Walsh said.

“And now we have the same countries in the Minsk Group. French support for the Armenians is due to France's historic role in acting as protectors of the western Armenians during the Great War in Cicilia,” he added. 

According to Irish historian, when French troops, who attacked Ottoman (Osmanli) Empire and tried to create a so-called "Armenian state" in the Ottoman territory, were defeated by Turkish Liberation Army led by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, the group of Armenians have been forced to found Armenian Diaspora in France.

“The creation of Armenian Diaspora is the historical background of France’s support to Armenians,” expert said.

Patrick Walsh pointed out that it is impossible to remove France out of the co-chair position of the OSCE Minsk Group.

 “I cannot see any way France would be removed from the co-chair of the Minsk Group. The US would not want Turkey replacing France and the Russians, who have the dominant position, is happy to see a weak, biased player in the team. It enhances Russia's position in relation to Azerbaijan. The best hope is for a side-lining of the Minsk Group,” he noted.

Furthermore, British expert noted that Russia's influence is still great in the region of the South Caucasus.

“Russia is reflecting the only strong regional power in the South Caucasus. It has still intent on manipulating local forces but now it does so reflecting the domination of Azerbaijan and Armenia's dependency on Moscow,” he said.

“As for the US, Washington is attempting to reassert influence in the world but this is difficult after President Trump's term of office, when the world was allowed to settle its affairs without US interference,” he added.

by Yunis Abdullayev