The steps taken by Azerbaijan in the direction of decolonization in recent years have created great confidence in the nations, including the overseas territories of France trying to free themselves from colonialism, and in the states and territories that are still suffering from neo-colonialism, even after gaining independence, Farid Soltanov, an employee of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan said at the regional seminar of the Special Committee on Decolonization - C-24 with regard to the application of the UN’s Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Report informs.
According to him, this is a logical continuation of the active participation and contribution of Azerbaijan during its chairmanship the Non-Aligned Movement, in 2019-2023, and currently as a member of the “Troika”:
“At the outset of Azerbaijan’s tenure as the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, my country declared that its priorities and activity would be based on the Bandung Principles. Fighting colonialism was among the issues addressed during the Bandung Conference. The delegates affirmed that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an evil that should speedily be brought to an end.
"During its presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Republic of Azerbaijan also assumed the role of the locomotive of the struggle against New colonial trends.
"Our State called on the international community not to turn a blind eye to such a disgusting practice of neo-colonialism leading to forced assimilation, particularly in France’s overseas regions, and initiated a new wave against neo-colonialism.”
Soltanov noted that on July 6, 2023, in Baku, an international conference themed "Complete elimination of colonialism" was organized within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement:
“As a result of this conference, the participants decided to continue and strengthen the struggle until the complete eradication of colonialism and liberation of their peoples to form a new approach in international relations based on global cooperation, respect for equality and sovereignty of peoples.”
The Azerbaijani official said that Azerbaijan is deeply concerned with the ongoing colonialism and its reemerging manifestations in the XXI century:
“The fact that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, regularly raised this topic in prestigious international forums, and promoted the issue of the complete abolition of colonialism for the sake of justice and international law, was appreciated by the peoples living under colonial conditions in the past and now.”
Soltanov recalled that to conduct an institutional and result-oriented struggle against colonialism, within the framework of the Ministerial Meeting held in Baku, an international NGO called the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) was established based on the participants’ proposal:
“Due to Azerbaijan’s decolonization policy, the grave repercussions of colonialism and neo-colonialism, as well as the severe violations of fundamental rights faced by people living under colonial rule, purposeful restriction of the freedoms of people, purposeful assimilation policy are brought to the attention of the global community. These issues are discussed in international stands such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and others.”
“In the last 10 months of its establishment, BIG has been the organizer of around 10 international conferences. Three conferences took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Geneva, and Vienna. Additionally, one conference was held in Istanbul, Türkiye, while the remaining conferences were hosted in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
BIG participated concurrently in the 3rd Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network as a special guest on March 25 of this year,” he said.
In his speech, the Azerbaijani official referred to the addresses of the President of Azerbaijan to the participants of the BİG-organized events in October and November 2023 in Baku on the topics of "Neocolonialism: Human Rights Violations and Injustice" and "Decolonization: Women's Empowerment and Development": “It can be highlighted with full confidence that these addresses, disseminated as official documents of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, can contribute to the activities of the C-24 Committee.
"Azerbaijan reiterates its interest in close cooperation with the C-24 Committee, noting that the activities of the Committee play an important role in the successful implementation of the 4th International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
"In conclusion, I invite the C-24 Committee and its member countries to collaborate closely with the Baku Initiative Group in the fight against colonialism and neo-colonialism. Furthermore, Azerbaijan could host the upcoming meeting of the C-24 Committee.”