We will not leave the Armenians: Macron

• 10.13.2022, 10:47
•  Europe,  World,  Armenia

French President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia on Wednesday of purposefully provoking the recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of an effort destabilize the Caucasus region and beyond, Reuters reported.

"What's been happening on the border the last two years ... 5,000 Russian soldiers are allegedly there to guarantee the border, (but) the Russians have used this conflict which dated back several centuries and played Azerbaijan's game with Turkish complicity and came back to weaken Armenia which was once a country it was close to," Macron said speaking to France 2 television.

He added: "Armenia is a country with which we [i.e., France] have a unique connection. Azerbaijan launched several attacks along the border. We have condemned them. We will not leave the Armenians."

Macron reminded that the meeting of the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan was held in Prague, with the mediation of the head of France and the European Council, which, according to Macron, was the first time in recent history that the head of Armenia met with the president of Turkey.

 When asked if the EU has a position of tolerance towards Azerbaijan because it has signed a natural gas supply agreement with it, Macron noted that France does not buy natural gas from Azerbaijan.

"Of course, several European countries have [natural] gas agreements [with Azerbaijan]. But I will tell you about the voice of France and Europe, and I say that our values and principles cannot be bought with either gas or oil," the French president concluded.