PARIS — France’s top climate official is skipping COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan after the host country’s president accused France of “brutally” suppressing climate change concerns in its overseas territory.

French Minister of Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher said, “After meeting with the president and the prime minister and reaching an agreement, I will not go to Baku next week.” He told the French Senate on WednesdayHe condemned the statements as “unacceptable” and “unfair”.

“Azerbaijan is instrumentalizing the fight against climate change for its dishonorable personal agenda,” Pannier-Runacher said.

The withdrawal of the French Climate Minister means Paris will not send any high-level political representatives to Baku, as French President Emmanuel Macron will also skip the event.