On April 27, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani President reported.

President Aliyev expressed the need for a broad exchange of views on the prospects of Azerbaijan-France relations and expressed confidence that comprehensive discussions on many issues will be held during Catherine Colonna's visit to the country, emphasizing that this could be useful for future cooperation. The head of state said that the exchange of views on the prospects of relations is important in terms of drawing up a road map for the next stage. The President of Azerbaijan said that the agenda of bilateral relations is always very broad; he noted that cooperation in political, economic, energy, transport, and other fields has a good history. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France visited the region and expressed his hope that regional cooperation and security issues will be discussed at the same time. The head of state emphasized that immediately after the end of the 44-day Patriotic War, Azerbaijan and Armenia proposed to sign a peace treaty by mutually recognizing each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. For this, he officially presented five principles to Yerevan. 

President Ilham Aliyev stated that Armenia is not fulfilling its obligations after the signing of the tripartite Declaration on November 10, 2020, and the end of the 44-day Patriotic War. In this regard, Aliyev emphasized that Armenia does not allow the creation of a corridor with Nakhchivan, does not withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani territories where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed, and uses the Lachin corridor to transport weapons and other military products to Karabakh. The President of Azerbaijan noted that establishing a border crossing point on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road expresses the country's sovereign right and ensures its territorial integrity.

Catherine Colonna stated that France wants peace and economic and social development in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus region, which has always been her country's goal. The guest indicated that France attached great importance to bilateral relations and relations within the European Union and said there is broad potential in this direction.

As previously reported by Caucasus Watch, France condemned the establishment by Azerbaijan of a checkpoint at the entrance to the new road of the Lachin corridor, which is contrary to the commitments made under the ceasefire declarations and damages the negotiation process. On April 24, Anne-Claire Legendre, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, made a statement regarding establishing a checkpoint by the Azerbaijani side on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road on April 23, 2023, is entirely unfounded.

Notably, there have been increasing tensions between France and Azerbaijan in recent years. Azerbaijan has accused France of being biased in favor of Armenia and not doing enough to pressure Armenia to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh.