Michel Vialay: Armenian Diaspora in France tries to impact country's foreign policy

"The Armenian Diaspora in France is trying to influence the country's foreign policy," Michel Vialay, a member of the French-Azerbaijani Friendship Group in the French National Assembly, told Report's local bureau.

According to him, the Armenian Diaspora in France skillfully uses the differences in the political beliefs of the country's officials: "What is happening inside France should not affect its foreign policy. Internal issues should be in the spotlight, especially on the eve of election campaigns. However, the Armenian Diaspora in France, which is more demanding than those living in Armenia, tries to impact the country's foreign policy. Thus, they use the differences in the positions of the government and some parliamentarians."

Vialay said that France should bring the parties of the conflict into dialogue for the economic development of both countries and their people: "Everyone hoped that after the conflict started by Armenia in 1989 and the occupation of a part of Azerbaijani lands, UN resolutions would be implemented through the Minsk Group, internationally accepted borders would be respected, and Azerbaijan would restore its territorial integrity. Thirty years later, after the failure of diplomatic negotiations, UN resolutions were implemented militarily. Now the issue of respecting borders has been resolved. The most important thing is to establish lasting peace in the Caucasus, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, where different cultures meet, and the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. France has had many difficult episodes in history with its neighbors. However, today our peoples have managed to build a common future by setting mutually beneficial goals. This experience is valuable for us, and we must share it with the countries of the Caucasus."

The French MP also touched upon the successful geographical position of Nagorno-Karabakh and its prospects: "During the two Karabakh wars and at the end of the tripartite agreement signed on November 10 last year, the Armenian policy of "burning the land" caused a lot of damage. Therefore, it is crucial to reconstruct different facilities and infrastructure and use this opportunity to lay the foundations for new regional development. Since the Caucasus is a geographical hub and a necessary exchangeable area for economic development, economic growth depends on the development of various infrastructure, as well as transport. If access to the region is facilitated, great opportunities will open up to create multiple activities. From this point of view, there are potential opportunities to develop agriculture, tourism, and all kinds of sports in Nagorno-Karabakh."