At the winter session of the OSCE PA in Vienna on February 23, Azay Guliyev, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation, expressed concern over France's policy, which he believes is exacerbating the fragile peace in the South Caucasus. 

He criticized France's recent decision to reaffirm its militarization policy and engage in new arms deals with Armenia, warning that such actions could undermine regional stability and hinder the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Guliyev dismissed claims made by French parliamentarians suggesting that Azerbaijan harbors territorial ambitions towards Armenia, labeling them as “baseless and intended to justify Armenia's militarization efforts.”

Highlighting a historic opportunity for Azerbaijan and Armenia to move past confrontation and establish good-neighborly relations, Guliyev emphasized the potential of the OSCE PA as a platform for fostering trust and confidence-building measures between the two countries. He cited recent mutual compromises and exchanges of convicted military personnel as positive outcomes of bilateral negotiations, urging sustained efforts to encourage dialogue and achieve normalization, including signing a peace treaty.

Responding to remarks by John Whittingdale, the head of the UK delegation, the Azerbaijani delegation rejected what they perceived as biased comparisons between Ukraine and Armenia, emphasizing the distinct nature of Azerbaijan's situation as a country that has endured occupation by Armenia for three decades. They criticized the UK delegate for overlooking Armenia's aggression and urged “a clearer differentiation between aggressor Armenia and aggrieved Azerbaijan.”