France has blocked a new NATO partnership plan for Azerbaijan, while Turkey has blocked Armenia’s plan in response, POLITICO reported on September 30.
France’s objection centers on the imprisonment of a French citizen in Azerbaijan, three NATO diplomats told the outlet. Turkey then blocked Armenia’s plan in solidarity with its close ally Azerbaijan, they said.
Both programs have been stalled for more than a year. The plans would expand cooperation on military exercises, training and other areas, while NATO has temporarily extended the countries’ existing partnerships.
“There is frustration — stop using NATO for bilateral issues,” one NATO diplomat told POLITICO.
France now faces pressure to lift its objection after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev released several prisoners, including a French national, the previous week.
A Turkish official rejected the characterization of the deadlock as a dispute with France or Armenia, saying Ankara had long been ready to approve both partnership documents together.
“The issue is definitely not a Turkey-France or Turkey-Armenia spat,” the official said.
Diplomats warned that the delay could hamper Armenia’s efforts to move closer to the West as Yerevan distances itself from Russia.
“It’s a concern … we create expectations for some countries, then we don’t live up to them — that can then create resentment,” another NATO diplomat told POLITICO.
France’s delegation to NATO declined to comment. The Armenian and Azerbaijani missions did not respond to the outlet’s requests. A NATO official said: “We stand ready to advance these two partnerships.”
Stories
