Italy: France summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Paris over “unacceptable remarks” made by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev last week at the COP29 talks hosted in Baku. The French foreign ministry described the comments as offensive, leading to significant diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

According to Qatar News Agency, the French foreign ministry’s decision to summon the ambassador was in response to remarks made about France and Europeans by Azerbaijani authorities. These comments prompted France’s Environment Minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, to cancel her planned trip to the UN climate summit.

Earlier this month, during a speech at the Leaders’ Summit of the Small Islands Developing States on Climate Change, President Aliyev criticized France for its colonial history and accused Europe of corruption. He also condemned Europe for allegedly lecturing other countries on human rights while ignoring incidents in its territories, specifically referencing the “killings of innocent people” in Fr
ance’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia in May.

The relationship between Paris and Baku has been historically strained, especially due to France’s support for Armenia, which adds another layer of complexity to their diplomatic interactions.