EU's Highest Body Cries for Yerevan but Trades with Baku: Le Figaro

French writer Sylvain Tesson has criticized the European Commission's policy towards the countries of the South Caucasus, stating that the EU's highest body "wants to cry with Yerevan but continues to trade extensively with Baku," according to Le Figaro.

"Europe's dual discourse complements the Armenian tragedy. The European Commission wants to shed a few tears with Yerevan, but continues to engage in large-scale trade with Baku, refusing to acknowledge that signing an agreement with one amounts to a death sentence for the other. You cannot be in the Tatev Monastery and the Baku Chamber of Commerce at the same time. Choices must be made," Tesson declared.

He noted that the concept of a "trade crossroads" proposed by Armenian authorities in the South Caucasus and the willingness to resume trade with Turkey remind him of sheep's desire to come to an agreement with a knife at their throats. "Yerevan, convinced of the primacy of the economy, names as 'competitors' those who call for the complete eradication of any Armenian presence on the ground," the writer emphasized.

In Yerevan, Tesson also met with Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan, who stated that the return of Artsakh citizens to their homeland is unrealistic at this stage. "There exists total enmity between our peoples. It is necessary to strengthen the sovereign borders of Armenia, as Azerbaijanis will continue their aggression," Shahramanyan said.

Tesson welcomed Paris's readiness to continue supporting Yerevan in the future, but emphasized that this will not change Baku's and Ankara's tactics. The Frenchman recounted his trip to Armenia's Syunik province and reminded that "Syunik is Erdoğan's last piece to complete his grand Turkish puzzle."

"Azerbaijan and Turkey are demanding a corridor," Tesson elaborated, "as soon as the French leader says never again, the Turk says let’s start again, while the Armenian thinks they will return," the author concluded.