France’s Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna wrongly calling the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan an “enclave” within Azerbaijan in the form of “Nagorno-Karabakh” is disrespectful to Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the rights of Azerbaijanis who were subjected to mass ethnic cleansing from this region, said Aykhan Hajizada, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, in response to the remarks by the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, against Azerbaijan made during an interview with France Inter public radio channel.
According to him, the Karabakh region is an internationally recognized sovereign territory and an integral part of Azerbaijan: “At the same time, there is no basis for the French side’s claim that the Lachin border checkpoint, which was established by Azerbaijan on its sovereign territory and where Armenian residents have already started to cross transparently in both directions, blocked the road. Azerbaijan carries out the protection of its borders and the crossing of these borders following the legislation of the country and the rules adopted at the international level. The French side must stop making such provocative remarks that do not serve peace and stability.”
