Ensuring the Security of Armenians: French Political Leaders Appeal to Macron

Leaders of various key political parties in France, despite differing political views, have jointly published an open letter in France's most widely read newspaper, Le Monde, calling for intervention from President Emmanuel Macron to guarantee the security of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian translation of the letter was published by the Armenian Embassy in France.

The political leaders noted that the closure of the Lachin corridor since September 2020 marks the beginning of a new phase of escalation in attacks against Armenians, whether they are citizens of Armenia or the Republic of Artsakh, and is a gross violation of international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the negotiations carried out within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, which envision a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“There are grounds to believe that Azerbaijan will not stop and will seize any opportunity to destabilize and persecute the residents of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia under the declared purpose of ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijan's actions — documented war crimes, the spread of ethnic hatred, the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage, the attack on Armenia in September 2022, and the illegal occupation of part of its sovereign territory, as well as repeated crimes against the civilian population, are unacceptable, which in any other circumstances would compel France to intervene. Moreover, a friendly nation is endangered — 'Our valiant little ally Armenia,' as Georges Clemenceau said,” the letter stated.

The party leaders reminded that the French Senate unanimously, with one exception, and then the National Assembly approved resolutions in support of Armenia this November, which is a victim of partial military occupation and ongoing attacks. These resolutions were a continuation of the first resolutions adopted in November 2020, which were passed in the same wording in favor of recognizing the Republic of Artsakh and in support of the right to self-determination of the Armenian population of Artsakh, where they have lived since ancient times.

“In accordance with the democratic expression of the National Assembly and Senate, we ask the President of the Republic to do everything possible to ensure the lasting security of the Armenian population of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Armenia. Given that Azerbaijan has declared that it refuses any international negotiations on the issue of Artsakh, we, the deputies and senators, appeal to you to intervene immediately to prevent the inevitable,” the party leaders stated.

They urged Macron to take the following actions: to condemn Azerbaijan for violations of international law, the occupation of part of the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and war crimes; to ensure a humanitarian presence in Artsakh and provide immediate economic assistance to Armenia; to meet with representatives of Artsakh; to mediate with our partners in the European Union and the United States to take similar actions and establish economic and political sanctions against Azerbaijan; to mediate with our partners in the European Union and the United States for the safe re-opening of the Stepanakert airport and the security of air links with Artsakh; and to present a request to the International Criminal Court for the prospect of sending an international peacekeeping force by the UN Security Council.

“Mr. President, you have the power today to prevent the repetition of history and correct one of its injustices. You can today demonstrate to the community of nations that France is great and committed to global values, its own moral duties, and honor. Mr. President, you can prove to all our compatriots that France is free, that it can free itself from short-sighted political or economic strategies to defend its humanist ideals, which are the foundation of our Nation,” the French political leaders concluded.

The signatories of the letter include Éric Ciotti, President of the French Republican Party, Olivier Faure, Secretary General of the French Socialist Party and Member of the National Assembly, Hervé Marseille, President of the Union of Democrats and Independents and Chairman of the Senate's Independent Group, Fabien Roussel, Secretary General of the French Communist Party, Christian Cambon, President of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee, Bruno Retailleau, President of the Senate Republicans Group, Eliane Assassi, President of the Senate Communist Group, Guillaume Gontard, President of the Senate Ecologist and Solidarity Group, Patrick Kanner, President of the Senate Socialist and Ecologist Republic Group, Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, President of the France-Armenia Friendship Group in the Senate, and Senator Pierre Ouzoulias.

It should be noted that on the morning of December 12, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothing blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia under the pretext of environmental reasons at the intersection near Shushi-Karin Tak. From December 13, the Azerbaijani side also cut off the gas supply to Artsakh. On the morning of December 16, the State Minister of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, announced that the gas supply to Artsakh had been restored without any preconditions. However, the Lachin corridor remains closed.