France says not shipping weapons that could be used in Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - France does not supply any weapons or ammunition that could be used in hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, the press service of the French Foreign Ministry told PanARMENIAN.Net on Friday, November 6.

According to the online database launched by the European External Action Service, France approved over €216 million worth of arms export licenses for Azerbaijan in 2019, and more than €921 million in 2018. Arms export licenses worth some €3 million were granted in 2016, when Azerbaijan had attacked Karabakh again. PanARMENIAN.Net reached out to France's Foreign Ministry for details about the country's exports of military products.

"France scrupulously observes the OSCE arms embargo which has been in place since 1992 and thus does not supply any weapons or ammunition which could be used in armed operations in Nagorno-Karabakh. France is all the more demanding in its assessment of the situation due to the fact that it co-chairs the Minsk Group," The Foreign Ministry said.

"France is a responsible exporter, with a strong and transparent control system based on comprehensive data accessible online and updated annually as part of its parliamentary report and its report to the Arms Trade Treaty."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and terrorist mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support humanitarian efforts in Karabakh.