France summons Azerbaijan’s ambassador over unacceptable remarks at COP29

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to France was summoned to the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs on Tuesday over the Azerbaijani authorities’ statements at COP29 about “neocolonialism” in overseas territories of France and the Netherlands.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said the overseas territories of France and the Netherlands are “among the most severely impacted” by climate change. He tied climate change to “neocolonialism”.

The French foreign ministry called “unacceptable remarks made against France and Europeans by the Azerbaijani authorities” in the context of COP29. Following these remarks, French Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention Agnès Pannier-Runacher had to cancel her participation in the conference.