Armenia

An Azerbaijan parliamentary commission called Thursday for the expulsion of French companies from the oil-rich country, including energy giant TotalEnergies, in the latest deterioration of relations between Baku and Paris.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly hit out at France for criticising Baku's Karabakh offensive last year, and for plans by Paris officials to help arm neighbouring Armenia.

The weaponry & goods previously pledged to Turkey can be redirected to more deserving clients: Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Armenia or even the Syrian Democratic Forces

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday that conditions for a peace treaty with arch-foe Armenia had been "created," adding that he did not want another war.

The two Caucasus neighbors and historical foes have fought two wars over the Nagorno-Karabakh region during the past three decades, with Baku retaking control of the territory in a one-day offensive last fall.

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis (4th from the right) meets with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (3rd from the right) in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan told France Wednesday not to "intervene" in its internal affairs after Baku arrested a Frenchman on espionage charges with tensions running high between the two countries.

Baku has accused France of supporting Azerbaijan's arch-enemy Armenia, both diplomatically and militarily, and of seeking to fuel tensions in the South Caucasus.

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will visit Yerevan on Wednesday, where he is scheduled to meet with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

Gerapetritis will also meet with the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, the Foreign Ministry said.

Azerbaijan authorities arrested a Frenchman on espionage charges in December, the Azerbaijani ambassador to France told AFP on Tuesday.

The annoucement comes amid rising tensions between Baku and Paris.

Baku has accused France of supporting Azerbaijan's arch-enemy Armenia, both diplomatically and militarily, and of seeking to fuel tensions in the South Caucasus.

The United States on Thursday added Azerbaijan to a watchlist on religious freedom, following fears for Christian heritage after the country seized back an important enclave from Armenia.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to visit Ankara tomorrow at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a bid to address pressing regional issues.

While the meeting is expected to focus on various matters, the war in Gaza remains a key agenda item, reflecting the shared concerns of both nations.

A 33-year-old man from Armenia was arrested in the early hours of Sunday after a police pursuit. 

According to the police, around 4 a.m. officers in the northwestern Athenian area of Fyli attempted to stop a vehicle for a search. The driver, riding in a stolen car, accelerated to escape.