French Government Bans all Decentralized Cooperation of Local Authorities with Karabakh

PARIS — The French government has banned all decentralized cooperation of local authorities with Karabakh without complying with international commitments of France.

A circular issued July 2, 2015 recalls the legal framework for decentralized cooperation agreements. The text is sent to prefects and High Commissioners was jointly signed by Laurent Fabius Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development and Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of the Interior.

Recalling that “some French local authorities in recent months have concluded cooperation agreements with entities that are not recognized by the French Government” Circular specifies the legal framework for decentralized cooperation agreements:

– any cooperation action must comply with the international commitments of France;

– In particular, local authorities can not conclude contracts with a foreign state, except in cases provided by law or an entity not recognized by the French State including the Nagorno-Karabakh or the Crimea or entities posing as their local authorities;

– the authorities are required to forward to the National Commission of Decentralized Cooperation information about their external actions.

In the procedure to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani different, October 27, 2014, during the Summit on Nagorno-Karabakh at the Elysee, “the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents agreed to continue their dialogue, including at a new meeting in September 2015 on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. ” (Elysee).

Responding to a question in the National Assembly, on September 23, 2014, Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, said: “Any sustainable solution to this protracted conflict must respect the principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity of States and the right to self-determination of peoples.