After Emmanuel Macron, Agnès Pannier-Runacher gives up going to Baku, against a backdrop of tensions with Azerbaijan

Relations between France and Azerbaijan, already very degraded due to Paris' support for Armenia, deteriorated further on the occasion of the 29^e Climate Conference of the Parties (COP29) which has been held in Baku since Monday, November 11. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Ecological Transition, announced on Wednesday that she would cancel her trip to the major annual United Nations climate meeting.

“The comments made by President Aliev during COP29 against France and Europe are unacceptable. Azerbaijan exploits the fight against climate change for an unworthy personal agendasaid the minister during the government questions session in the Senate. After discussions and in agreement with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, I will not go to Baku next week. »

The situation worsened on Wednesday morning. During a speech at the COP to representatives of island states, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev increased attacks against “President Macron’s regime”. “The lessons of France's crimes in these so-called overseas territories would not be complete without mentioning the regime's recent human rights violations”he declared, before accusing the French authorities of having killed 13 people and injured 169 people “during the legitimate protests of the Kanak people in New Caledonia”. The autocrat of Baku repeated that France is a country which maintains “under colonial rule” its overseas territories and Corsica, after Azerbaijan has, in recent months, increased its gestures of support for certain pro-independence figures.

The charge from the master of Baku is so strong that it prompted the European commissioner in charge of climate negotiations, the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra, to react. “Regardless of bilateral disagreements, the COP should be a place where all parties feel free to come and negotiate on climate action”he wrote on the social network “The COP presidency has a particular responsibility to enable and strengthen this”added Mr. Hoekstra, emphasizing the “pivotal role” of France in the discussions initiated against global warming.

Tense context

Mr Aliev also attacked the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in the morning, “two institutions that have become symbols of political corruption”according to him. The day before, Mr. Aliev had taken advantage of this political forum to defend fossil fuels, “gift from God” and attack the European Union which would have asked him to “supply more gas”after the energy crisis of 2022, to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, after the invasion of Ukraine by the regime of Vladimir Putin.

You have 36.11% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.