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A new wave of hysteria has risen in Azerbaijan against the backdrop of the recent visit of Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan to France to attend annual Telethon and Phonathon in the country. 

Sahakyan’s meetings held in Paris have angered Baku, which in turn, has sent a note of protest to the French Foreign Ministry over the visit. 

In a statement released on 17 November, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, “France's constant double standards approach makes Azerbaijan reconsider its ties with that country.”

In a separate statement, Baku promised to also present a note of protest to the US for issuing a visa to the Artsakh leader. 

Panorama.am correspondent has talked to David Babayan, a spokesman for the Artsakh president, over the possible reasons behind such a conduct of Azerbaijan.

The official stressed this is Azerbaijan’s yet another failed attempt to isolate Artsakh from the international community.

“Azerbaijan is apparently trying to impede any steps and policies of Artsakh aimed at establishing cooperation with different countries. The country spends huge sums – billions of dollars – on it, but all in vain,” Babayan said, meantime stressing Armenia shouldn’t be relieved and not take Baku’s steps seriously.

“But this is the reality: spending huge sums, they fail to achieve a desired end. It irritates Azerbaijan, causing uproar in the country,” he stressed.

The spokesman strongly believes the attempts of the adversary to isolate Artsakh are continuous, and Azerbaijan will not abandon its policy.

“We should clearly realize this and never give up, thinking that Azerbaijan has changed its policy line or ultimate goal. For better or worse, no one shall take deterrent measures instead of us. First of all, we must continue strengthening our trinity – the unity of Mother Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,” he said, stressing the need to carry out works inside the country and prepare best professionals to work on international platforms.

“We have that potential, we have talented and patriotic diplomats, including within various structures of the Diaspora,” the Artsakh official said.

Babayan stressed despite all the anti-Armenian activities of Azerbaijan, Artsakh doesn’t feel isolated either in France or US thanks to the great support of Armenia and the Diaspora.

“However, the adversary works in multiple channels. Let’s take the example of France: according to reliable sources, Azerbaijan together with Turkey constantly threatens the leaders of those French sister cities which have cooperation agreements with Artsakh. We know about it for sure. In fact, they have declared jihads our friends who are either MPs or social and political figures in different cities,” he said.

“Azerbaijan runs the same policy also in the US, that is why we must preserve the trinity and be united,” the spokesman stressed.

Summing up, he noted Armenia shouldn’t follow the aggressive workstyle of Azerbaijan which is agreed with the fact that Baku has no legal, political or moral truth on its side. According to him, this is the reason why Azerbaijan puts the emphasis on its interests, bribery and terrorism.

“They stay focused on money, while we – on values,” he said.