"France will continue to contribute to efforts to promote dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan." [fr]

Thank you, Mr. President,
I thank Mr. Jenča for his presentation.

Mr. President,
The events of the last few days are very worrying.

I would like to highlight two points.

Firstly, the obstruction of traffic on the access corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh since December 12 is unacceptable.

The blockage of the Latchine corridor has the direct consequence of isolating the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. It leads to humanitarian consequences that are getting worse every day. France calls for the unconditional restoration of circulation along the corridor and of supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, while respecting the rights of the populations living there.

France calls for the implementation of the commitments made in the framework of the trilateral declaration of 9 November 2020. It also notes that, as the Republic of Azerbaijan has undertaken to do, the safe movement of people, vehicles and goods along the Latchine corridor in both directions must be guaranteed.

France also calls for immediate, free and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations and UN agencies, in particular the UNHCR, to the populations concerned, including through the Latchine corridor. It notes that the first ICRC convoys have been organized.

Secondly, France calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to create a climate conducive to the successful conclusion of the current negotiations and to move forward, exclusively through dialogue and excluding any use of force, towards the settlement of all outstanding issues, including that of rights and guarantees for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Along with the European Union, France will continue to contribute to efforts to promote dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We will support the search for progress on all the subjects under negotiation, in particular the draft peace treaty, the delimitation of the border, humanitarian issues, and the opening of communication routes with the aim of a lasting peace in the region. The meeting in Prague on October 6, 2022, to which reference was made, between the President of the Republic, the President of the European Council, the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, led to significant progress. France is at the disposal of the parties to contribute to these objectives, in connection with all partners and stakeholders.

We have circulated a draft statement to the press which is open for comments until 10 am tomorrow.
Thank you.