Another protest action held near French Embassy in Baku

Today, about 50 activists of the National Independence Party of Azerbaijan held in front of the French Embassy in Baku a protest action against the draft law, criminalizing denial of Armenian genocide.

The picketers have condemned the adoption of the law draft by the French National Assembly.

The protesters were chanting slogans: "Sarkozy is enemy of Turks", "Blood of Algeria and Rwanda is on France's conscience", "Let's remove French Embassy from Azerbaijan!" and others.

The resolution of the protest action has noted that "the draft law adopted by the French National Assembly contradicts the international law and represents an attempt to exert pressure on Turkey."

"The French Senate should have not approved that law draft," states the resolution handed in to the Embassy's representative.

"Pro-Armenian position of the French leadership challenges the impartiality of Paris as the co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on Karabakh settlement. Azerbaijan should raise the question of the removal of France from the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group," said Rashad Bairamov, a member of the NIPA's leadership.

Besides, according to Rashad Bairamov, "the Azerbaijani government should renegotiate oil and gas contracts with the French company 'Total'."

Despite the fact that the picket was not sanctioned by the authorities, the police did not hamper to conduct the protest action, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Within last 5 days, it was the third protest action in front of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, the decision of the National Assembly of France was condemned by many Azerbaijani politicians, pro-government and oppositional ones. Thus, the United Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan demanded to recall the Azerbaijani Ambassador from France.

Elmar Mamedyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, also commented on the step of the Lower House of French Parliament.

"If France enters a fair position, it should express its opinion not about the events, which occurred a century ago, but about the genocide of Azerbaijanis in Khodjaly in February of 1992, in general, about the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, about the situation with millions of refugees," stated Elmar Mamedyarov.

However, he did not comment on calls that the official Baku should raise the issue on removal of France from the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group.