Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev Criticizes France Over Georgia Involvement
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev has spoken out against French President Emmanuel Macron for getting involved in Georgian affairs. Aliev made his comments during a live interview with Russian state-controlled TV network Russia Today.
Aliev said that the situation in Georgia is stabilizing and he is happy about it. He emphasized that Georgia is Azerbaijan’s most important partner and close friend, and destabilization in the country would be harmful to both nations.
However, Aliev also criticized what he called “external influence” on Georgia, saying that thousands of NGOs receive funding from Western countries. He recalled a similar experience in Azerbaijan when NGOs received foreign funding without proper oversight, but said that his government took steps to regulate them.
Aliev also spoke out against the US Agency for International Development (USAID), saying that it wants to help but does so in an intrusive manner. He claimed that USAID only provides aid where it is wanted, and not necessarily where it is needed.
In response to a question about Russia’s ban on USAID, Aliev said that Russia did the right thing by taking such action.
Azerbaijani President then turned his attention to French President Macron, saying that he was getting involved in Georgian affairs when he should be focusing on his own country. He also criticized France for its colonialist policies and claimed that the situation in Georgia is bigger than it seems – it’s a battle for the Caucasus region.
Aliev emphasized that Azerbaijan is an independent player that can stand up for itself, but noted that Georgia is an important factor in the struggle for the Caucasus. He expressed hope that Georgia would be able to maintain traditional values and not follow Western countries.
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