Today, as part of the Second Shusha Global Media Forum themed "Exposing False Narratives: Combating Disinformation," a presentation of a report titled "The Evolution of French Colonialism: A Political and Constitutional Study" will take place in Shusha. The report, commissioned by the Baku Initiative Group, was authored by renowned American UN expert Dr. Carlyle Corbin.
The presentation will be conducted by the author himself, alongside Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group. The nearly 140-page study delves into the history of colonization in France's former and current colonies, including Vietnam, Algeria, New Caledonia (Kanaky), French Polynesia (Maohi Nui), Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Mayotte (considered part of the Comoros Islands), Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.
Based on international legal documents, the report provides extensive information on the crimes committed by France, both historically and in the present day, such as ethnic cleansing, slave trade, repression of local populations, arrests, killings, and induced famines. It also highlights France's non-compliance with UN resolutions and the political, military-strategic, and economic interests that lie at the root of these crimes.
The report emphasizes that the ongoing processes in New Caledonia are driven by President Emmanuel Macron's disregard for the local population's demands for decolonization and his forceful promotion of colonial policies. It also notes that attempts by French officials to attribute recent unrest in New Caledonia to external interference, particularly from Azerbaijan, are baseless and aimed at diverting international attention from the legitimate demands of the indigenous Kanak people.
This study aims to raise global awareness about the French government's actions in its colonies that violate international law and to draw attention to the issue of colonialism. The report will be submitted to the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as to the Non-Aligned Movement, the European Union, the African Union, the OSCE, and other international organizations.