France, a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group welcomed Azerbaijan’s release of 15 Armenian “detainees” (prisoners-of-war) and Armenia’s handover of maps of minefields of occupied Artsakh’s Varanda (Fizuli) and Kovsakan (Zangelan) regions
“Following the POW return on June 11, this exchange is a significant new gesture to reduce tensions on the ground and help restore trust between the parties,” said the French Foreign Ministry.
France calls for the pledges made by the parties on November 9, 2020 to be implemented, including the resumption of substantial dialogue and the release of all the Armenian prisoners still being held.
“Together with its partners in the Minsk Group co-presidency, France calls for this positive momentum to be continued and remains committed alongside the parties to building a lasting peace in the Caucasus,” said the French Foreign Ministry.
The French Foreign Ministry incorrectly referred to the Armenians as “detainees” in their statement when in fact they are prisoners-of-war who are being illegally detained and tried in Azerbaijan, violating the Geneva Conventions & international humanitarian law after the November 9 Trilateral agreement between Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
The French MFA also incorrectly referred to Fizuli and Zangilan as Azerbaijani districts, when in fact they are occupied Armenian regions of Artsakh.
