France Calls for Expansion of EU Armenia Mission, Amid Tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan Border

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday called for the expansion of the European Union monitoring mission in Armenia, voicing concern over the rising tension along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

Barrot made the remarks upon his arrival at a summit of European foreign ministers, which kicked off in Luxenbourg on Monday, according to a social media post by French Ambassador to Armenia, Olivier Decottignies.

“Regarding Azerbaijan, I am very concerned about the rising tensions on the border. I hope that the European [civilian monitoring] mission deployed on the ground can be expanded to be able to observe and contain these tensions. The peace treaty must now be signed, and the arbitrary detainees, the prisoners, must be released,” Barrot said.

Almost immediately after Barrot’s statement, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry issued a statement, calling France “hypocritical.”

Azerbaijan, which constantly receives weapons from various countries and carries out military aggression against Armenia, accused France of supplying Armenia with “lethal” weapons—but without providing any evidence.

In its statement, Baku demanded that official Paris “to put an end to destabilizing external interventions, including from France.”