Baku:Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong condemnation of remarks made by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. Barrot's comments, made during the OECD Global Forum on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy on October 13, accused Azerbaijan of interference, which the Azerbaijani government considers baseless.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Aykhan Hajizada, spokesperson for Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the French minister's accusations as demonstrating a reluctance by France to abandon confrontational rhetoric in its relations with Azerbaijan.

Hajizada further addressed the claims regarding Azerbaijan's alleged involvement in the struggles of peoples in New Caledonia and other French overseas territories. He dismissed these allegations as unfounded, suggesting that they misrepresent the differing views within these territories as foreign interference, thus diverting attention from the genuine concerns of their populations.

Hajizada urged French officials to prioritize the consistent application of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law within their own policies. He called on France to cease making unfounded allegations against Azerbaijan and to adhere to principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and non-interference in international relations.