Resolving Armenian Prisoners’ Issue Must be Precondition for Armenia-Azerbaij

The matter of Armenian prisoners being held in Baku should be discussed as part of unresolved humanitarian issues during the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, France’s Foreign Trade and Economy Minister Nicolas Forissier said Thursday.

The minister made the statement in response to a question from French Senate member Marie-Arlette Carlotti, who asked about Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.

Carlotti’s question concerned the support provided by the French government to the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh and the fate of Armenians illegally held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

“Unresolved humanitarian issues should be discussed within the framework of the process of normalization of relations between the two countries,” said Forissier, the foreign trade minister.

“We welcomed the return of four prisoners to Armenia on January 14 of this year and call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. The progress made in the process of normalizing relations creates an opportunity for the establishment of lasting peace in the South Caucasus. We encourage both sides to fulfill their commitments. The resolution of the issue of prisoners must become a precondition,” the French minister emphasized.

He added that France has unequivocally condemned Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh and expressed regret over the practically complete departure of the Armenian population from the region.

“We have provided the greatest humanitarian assistance in the reception of displaced persons. The allocated funds will be adapted to the current needs in order to ensure humanitarian and effective assistance. France attaches importance to the implementation of the interim measures imposed by the International Court of Justice on November 17, 2023. All those who wish to return to their places of residence must be able to do so in unbound and safe conditions,” the French minister added.