BAKU, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan in a diplomatic note on Friday protested the French National Assembly's approval of a resolution on Karabakh on Thursday.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry summoned French Ambassador to Baku Zacharie Gross, and gave him a diplomatic note on the Senate's decision, the ministry said in a statement.

The decision is against international norms, principles, and law as well as relevant UN resolutions, the ministry noted, adding that Azerbaijan strongly objected to the decision.

On Nov. 26, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry had given another diplomatic note to the French envoy over the so-called resolution which urged the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as "a republic".

Relations between the former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted Sept. 27, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the Armenian occupation.

The two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement Nov. 10 to end fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

The truce is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces have been withdrawing in line with the agreement.

*Writing by Burak Bir