France will stay away from the climate talks taking place in the Azeri capital after Ilham Aliyev accused Paris of "crimes" and "human rights violations" in overseas territories including New Caledonia in the South Pacific, where 13 people have been killed ...

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev lashed out on Wednesday at the "crimes" of France in its overseas territories like New Caledonia, in the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Aliyev in his speech attacked the European Union and the Council of Europe human rights body, calling them “symbols of political corruption that share responsibility with the government of President Macron for the killings of innocent people”. He also said that “all political prisoners of France must be liberated”.

President Ilham Aliyev alleged that France's handling of protests in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, in May, constituted 'crimes' and 'human rights violations.' France has previously accused Azerbaijan of foreign interference in the island's protests.

Azerbaijan’s president blamed Emmanuel Macron’s government for deadly violence in New Caledonia earlier this year.

France's ecology minister pulled out of the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan Wednesday after its authoritarian leader accused France of colonialist "crimes" in New Caledonia, in the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev ...