ArmInfo. By providing political and military support to Azerbaijan, Turkey has deeply changed the regional balance, which destabilizes the entire region. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated this in an interview with Nouvelles d'Armenie.
According to her, if Turkey wants to take on the role of a regional power, it must by its actions contribute to stability, the search for agreed solutions and the prosperity of the region, and, no less important, recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915. "But we are far from this. I would add that Ankara is playing a very dangerous game, in particular, opening up an opportunity for jihadists to join Azerbaijan and take part in hostilities," the Mayor said. She stated that in this conflict Baku is clearly an aggressor supported by Turkey.
The Minsk Group, which unites the French, Americans and Russians, must determine what the future of Karabakh and its people will be, and this decision will have to be made. "I hope it can end the conflict as soon as possible and start negotiations for a lasting and just peace in the region. In addition, I note that a humanitarian ceasefire was achieved this weekend, which I hope will be more respected than last week's ceasefire, which was repeatedly violated. War is never a solution, and in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh it brings back painful centuries-old memories, ""said Anne Hidalgo. In her opinion, it is quite obvious that President Erdogan's regime is nationalistic. He denies the reality of the Armenian genocide and encourages Azerbaijan to carry out ethnic cleansing of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. "Every time I came to Yerevan and paid tribute to the memory of 1.5 million victims of the Genocide, every time I wondered about the mechanisms that allowed planning and committing such crimes," Anne Hidalgo emphasized.
The Mayor of Paris noted that she understands the approach of 22 French parliamentarians, who demanded the immediate adoption of a resolution on the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh by France. "If the only solution to the current conflict is the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh, we should not hesitate. But the Foreign Ministry believes that only the Minsk Group can allow a return to peace and security. Therefore, I do not want to impede France's efforts to find a peaceful solution. I am in constant contact with The Foreign Ministry, which is working energetically and pragmatically to end the conflict. The goal is for the Armenians to live in a stable and secure manner in Nagorno-Karabakh, as in Armenia. I share the priorities of the French government, which, together with the Minsk Group, seeks to end the clashes and return to negotiations. I support self-determination as such, "said Anne Hidalgo.
She added that the Paris Council cannot recognize the independence of Artsakh, because the laws of local authorities do not allow municipalities to recognize or sign an agreement with a legal entity not recognized by France. But the city can spearhead other initiatives. "I was informed that UGAB Europe would like to send young European citizens as observers. I think this initiative is excellent. I suggested that on their return they come and witness what they saw, bringing in European mayors who wish. Restitution should take place in mid-November ", said the Mayor.
The Mayor also noted that she appealed to the international association of French-speaking mayors (AIMF), of which Yerevan is a member, with a proposal to provide immediate assistance in the amount of 50 thousand euros to provide emergency assistance to refugees and support the healthcare system in Armenia. "I also intend to travel to Yerevan at the beginning of 2021 with a delegation from the Council of Paris to demonstrate our solidarity and see how to further strengthen our ties," Anne Hidalgo said.