We are not interfering in France’s internal affairs.
“Elchi” reports that President Ilham Aliyev stated this at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum.
“When Azerbaijan was admitted to the Council of Europe, I was the first head of our country’s delegation, and I went to Strasbourg. One of the first things we heard from the leadership of the Council of Europe there was that human rights cannot be considered an internal affair of any country. We accepted this and learned it like good students. Now, when the Baku Initiative Group raises issues of colonialism, colonial inequality, and colonial governance, not only this organization but also the Azerbaijani government is accused of interfering in France’s internal affairs. However, we are not interfering in France’s internal affairs. Because human rights are a universal issue. I believe the Baku Initiative Group is the first and most effective non-governmental organization to bring this topic to the international agenda. For many years, France’s overseas territories, i.e., de facto colonies, have lived under severe pressure. Illegal actions, including nuclear tests, have been carried out there. How many nuclear tests were conducted in French Polynesia? A hundred, two hundred, maybe even more. As a result, many people lost their lives and their health. When the Baku Initiative Group raises these issues, it is groundlessly accused of waging a ‘hybrid war.’ This is a completely unfair approach. I believe that the role of independent media is extremely important here. For many years, the faint voices heard regarding the problems occurring in New Caledonia, Polynesia, Martinique, and other territories were silenced. They were pressured and blackmailed. According to the information I received, some individuals participating in international events organized by the Baku Initiative Group were even detained. They were detained not only in France but also in Switzerland. Some were even arrested. And those who do all this try to teach the world a lesson in human rights and democracy. You know, a boomerang is a very effective weapon. Those who wanted to attack Azerbaijan did not evaluate us correctly. But this issue carries a broader meaning than the activities of the Baku Initiative Group. I want to note once again that the role of the media is extremely important. The media must show enough courage to stand against colonialism. This issue is not about our relations with France. Yes, France’s position regarding Azerbaijan’s sovereignty has had a certain negative impact on our relations. Decisions aimed at recognizing the so-called ‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’ have been adopted in France. Even now, a ‘representative office’ of that non-existent entity operates in France,” the head of state said.
President Ilham Aliyev noted, however, that these are not the main issues: “It is about the fundamental principles of international relations. In the 21st century, you cannot keep territories located 10,000 kilometers away from you as colonies. The people of those territories do not want you. They want to live their own lives. States many times smaller than New Caledonia and other territories are independent today. They have a voice in the UN, a flag, and statehood. So why shouldn’t those peoples have this right? I believe this issue is a serious test for both states and civil society. If more organizations like the Baku Initiative Group are created in different parts of the world, they can form a union and demonstrate a stronger position on these issues. Such a coalition can act more effectively to stop these pressures. It is not just about New Caledonia. There are such examples even in Europe itself. For example, look at Corsica. The people of this region, located in the heart of Europe, want to live their own lives, preserve their language, and have their national identity respected. They do not want to seize France’s territory. They just want to live with dignity on their ancestral lands and without outside governance. We are particularly sensitive to this issue. Because we ourselves have lived a colonial life. We became a colony in the 19th century. Later, despite being a formal republic within the Soviet Union, we were not independent. For this reason, we know well what colonialism is and the value of freedom. For example, there is a night-and-day difference between the Azerbaijan of the 19th and 20th centuries and the Azerbaijan of today. At that time, they only took our resources. Billions of tons of oil, not billions of barrels, were extracted from Azerbaijan. When the Soviet Union collapsed, our country was not provided with natural gas or electricity. To this day, we are spending billions on cleaning up areas contaminated by oil production around Baku. For more than the last 30 years, Azerbaijan, as noted, has already turned into a middle power. This is the advantage that independence has brought us.”
According to President Ilham Aliyev, when the Soviet Union collapsed, many analysts in Russia said that these republics would not be able to live without a center and would perish: “But what happened? They are all living. Some are more prosperous, some are developing relatively slowly. But none of them perished. That is exactly why we support independence. We want New Caledonia, Polynesia, Martinique, and Saint-Martin to be free. I emphasize once again that this has nothing to do with our relations with France. This issue is sometimes presented incorrectly and used against Azerbaijan. I hope that these messages of mine will be received correctly in Paris as well. Because we are currently in the process of normalizing relations with France. They criticize us, and we criticize them. This is normal. This is not an attack. This is part of normal business relations between two sovereign states. Neither is superior to the other, and no one can dictate to the other what to do. But expressing one’s position, voicing concerns, and criticizing is completely normal.”