BAKU: President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has criticized the practices of the European observer missions, labeling their approach as "binocular diplomacy" and deeming it "absolutely unacceptable." The remarks were made during a meeting with Julien de Fraipont, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Azerbaijan. According to Trend News Agency, President Aliyev expressed his dissatisfaction with the European Union's handling of its observation mission along the Azerbaijan border. The mission, initially agreed upon in Prague in October 2022, was supposed to be a short-term deployment of a few retired military officers. However, the prolongation of this mission was not consulted with Azerbaijani authorities, which has led to increased mistrust between Azerbaijan and the EU. President Aliyev highlighted that the unauthorized extension and the conduct of the mission members were not only undesirable but also breached normal political protocols and standards. The president emphasized that Azerbaijan intends to continue addressing these issues in its future communications with the European Union, underscoring the importance of respect for sovereignty and prior consultation in international relations.