The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday, November 14, that the statements of the head of the Azerbaijani state, Ilham Aliyev, addressed to the European Union, France and the Netherlands are unacceptable.
According to him, the "regrettable statements" of President Ilham Aliyev, among other things, jeopardize the important goals of the UN climate conference being held in Azerbaijan this year and undermine the credibility of Baku's chairmanship.
"We support France and the Netherlands," the High Representative said, expressing concern about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and condemning the actions of the authorities of this country against the press and NGOs.
He added that the European Union and its member states "make the biggest contribution to global climate finance."
On Wednesday, President Aliyev blamed "neo-colonialism" for climate change, and also accused France and the Netherlands of causing environmental damage to their overseas territories, citing as an example the explosions of French nuclear bombs on islands in Polynesia.
The Azerbaijani president also condemned the government of French President Emmanuel Macron, which he accused of "committing crimes" in French Pacific New Caledonia, and called Brussels and The Council of Europe on Human Rights "symbols of political corruption," which, according to him, "share with Paris the responsibility for the murder of innocents."
Aliyev also criticized Borrell for the fact that the High Representative compared Europe to a garden of eden, and the rest of the world to a jungle. "If we are the jungle, then get out of here and don't interfere in our affairs!" he said.
Relations between Paris and Baku has been tense for a long time. France accuses Azerbaijan of fomenting unrest in New Caledonia, and Azerbaijan does not like Paris's support for Armenia.
President Macron did not personally attend the climate summit, and he was supposed to be represented by Environment Minister Agnes Panier-Runache, who also called Aliyev's statements unacceptable and canceled her participation in the climate conference in Baku.