French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte is wrapping up his diplomatic mission in the country. Before saying goodbye, Hetq spoke with Lacôte about the Artsakh issue, Armenian-French relations, and his experience in Armenia.
Hetq: September 2 marked the 30th anniversary of Artsakh’s declaration of independence. For three decades, the people of Artsakh have been fighting for self-determination, for their right to live on that land. In your last interview, you said that France is a country that fights for the right of its inhabitants to stay on their land. What is France’s position on Artsakh?
Jonathan Lacôte: We must state that months after the 44-day war, the Karabakh issue remains open. The war did not provide any solution. The war showed that there is an existential threat to the Armenians living in Karabakh. We live in the 21st century, and in the 21st century we cannot accept that people cannot live in their own home. We cannot accept that they will face problems such as war or deportation. The goal should be to resume negotiations and ensure the security of the people of Karabakh. The November 9 statement is a big step forward, as it has provided an opportunity for a ceasefire, but the status issue is open. France’s priority is to create conditions for the resumption of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The role of the Minsk Group is more important today than in the past. Our mission is to protect the people of Karabakh.
Hetq: Azerbaijan considers the Karabakh issue resolved and emphasizes that the Minsk Group has been ineffective for thirty years. Do the Co-Chairs have leverage over Azerbaijan? Is it possible to restore the activity of the Minsk Group?
Jonathan Lacôte: The reality is that only the Minsk Group has a mandate to discuss the status of Karabakh. We can hope that the conflict has been resolved, but the issue of the security of the people living there has not been resolved. No other international organization is represented there except the International Committee of the Red Cross. Only the Lachin corridor allows for a connection between Armenia and Karabakh. We have a blockaded population in that area. All this once again proves the need to resume negotiations. The Co-Chairs have repeatedly spoken about this after the November 9 statement, emphasizing that this need is due not only to the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but also to several events following that statement.
Hetq: Azerbaijan isn’t returning Armenian POWs, is not fulfilling its obligations under the trilateral statement. At the same time, the United States, France and Russia are talking about regional cooperation and unblocking of transport routes. Can such a thing happen given this backdrop?
Jonathan Lacôte: We are deadlocked over some issues. We are deadlocked on the issue of prisoners, on the issue of communication channels. No discussion, no negotiations are underway on the Karabakh issue. We see that this status quo is dangerous. After the November 9 announcement, we faced other problems, particularly in the territory of Armenia, on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The priority is the resumption of talks between Yerevan and Baku under the Minsk Group co-chairmanship. The conflicting parties must decide for themselves the priority issues that they will discuss.
Hetq: Is there any progress in this regard?
Jonathan Lacôte: I think we are coming to a point where each of the parties is interested in resuming negotiations. In any case, there have been statements from Armenia at the level of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, which we have welcomed.
Hetq: Do you see the same tendency on the part of Baku?
Jonathan Lacôte: I am not the French Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Hetq: You said that the role of France is to prevent a new conflict and to accompany Armenia in the political process of peace. But we see that the two countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia, are acquiring new weapons. There’s the belief that they are preparing for a new war. What can you say about this?
Jonathan Lacôte: I think one would be naive to think that there is no risk of conflict in this region, that a new conflict is not possible. However, our role should not be to prepare the parties or to support any party in case of a new conflict, but to do everything to avoid a new conflict.
Hetq: Is there a superpower competition in the Caucasus?
Jonathan Lacôte: Cooperation between Russia, the United States and France provides a great opportunity for the South Caucasus. The difficulties that exist in the relations between Russia and the West do not exist in the case of the Karabakh issue. Presidents Macron and Putin often have telephone conversations on several controversial issues, but there is a common ground on the Karabakh issue.
Hetq: Is there anything in Armenia that you will miss?
Jonathan Lacôte: Before leaving, I am becoming more and more convinced that I will not leave Armenia for good, that I will return as an individual. I do not say goodbye to people but see you. Because when you leave a country, you miss people, and nothing prevents you from seeing the people you know again.
Hetq: Officially, you could not visit Artsakh. When you finish your diplomatic mission, will you visit as an ordinary Frenchman? Do you have such a wish?
Jonathan Lacôte: I would especially like to visit a peaceful Karabakh. A Karabakh whose population lives in safety and where my visit will not be political manipulated.
Hetq: What is your parting wish for the Armenian people?
Jonathan Lacôte: First, I would like to wish that all Armenians be confident in their strength. 2.5 million united and determined people can work miracles. Everything should not be expected from the outside. At the same time, everything should not be expected from the government. You must rely on yourselves and preserve national unity. Armenia is going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its independence, I think we should take the exam of those thirty years and try to project the next thirty years.
The full interview is available on Hetq.