Baku's message at NAM summit as breath of fresh air amid global turbulence STOP to neocolonialism

Ilham Aliyev's speech at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group Summit in Baku was rich and energetic, a breath of fresh air in a world exhausted of ambitions and confrontations between traditional global leaders. The first part of the Azerbaijani President's speech was devoted to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, while not failing to remind the world of the shameful facts of "vaccine nationalism", Aliyev noted NAM's fruitful initiatives in the equitable distribution of vaccines.

"Subsequently, NAM initiated two resolutions for equitable and universal access to vaccines for all countries adopted by the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly in 2021," Aliyev said.

Stressing the importance of the decisions taken by NAM to tame the pandemic, the President also spoke about the institutional development of the organization, noting the establishment of the NAM Parliamentary Network and Youth Organization on the initiative of Azerbaijan.

Then Aliyev turned to the particularly pressing global issues of the post-pandemic world order, stating that the "erosion of the norms and principles of international law still further threatens the international order".

Indeed, although Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not the first violation of the borders of a sovereign state in recent history, the sheer scale of the conflict suggests an escalation of global contradictions unprecedented since the end of the Cold War. Ilham Aliyev called it a conflict of East and West: "The new world order is in the process of transformation. The whole world is now witnessing the most serious East-West confrontation since the end of the Cold War, with implications for the rest of the world.

The global nature of the conflict confronts NAM with the well-forgotten old challenges that were the very reason for its emergence - the need to preserve sovereignty without becoming part of global military blocs. And this is where Aliyev's address takes the sharpest turn. Perhaps never before in recent years has the anti-colonial discourse been expressed so forcefully. "Unfortunately, today we are witnessing an increasing trend towards neo-colonialism. The Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged as a result of the historical process of decolonization, must unite its efforts to completely turn this shameful page in the history of humanity".

Touching upon neo-colonialism, Aliyev did not limit himself to general statements, but listed a number of urgent problems in this area and moved on to unpleasant specifics for other players: "The Non-Aligned Movement has always strongly supported the indisputable sovereignty of the Union of Comoros over the island of Mayotte, which remains under the colonial rule of France. As reflected in the founding documents of NAM, we call on the French Government to respect the rights of the people of New Caledonia and other peoples in the French overseas collectivities and territories.

It is worth noting that Mayotte's membership of Comoros was recognised by the UN General Assembly in 1979. As for New Caledonia, to the displeasure of the French, the Baku summit was also attended by a representative of the Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation, an organization fighting for the independence of the indigenous population (Kanaks) of the island from the French yoke. Thus, there is not just a statement, but a demonstration of the cementing role of the NAM in general and Azerbaijan in particular in creating an opposition to the global neo-colonial policy, the flagship of which is France.

"The territories ruled by France outside Europe are the disgusting remnants of the French colonial empire. We also call on France to apologize and acknowledge responsibility for its colonial past and bloody colonial crimes and acts of genocide against member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement in Africa, South-East Asia, and elsewhere," said the head of state.

Perfectly logical. A country that has not apologized for its crimes has no right to build relations with its former colonies as if nothing had happened, and still, less has the right to make claims against anyone over invented humanitarian catastrophes, such as the "Armenian genocide", not to mention the "blockade of the Lachin corridor".

The NAM president's rebuke of France from a high rostrum is a brilliant, ironic accompaniment to President Macron's tour of Africa these days. By the way, Gabon, which was the first stop on Macron's tour, sent its vice-president Rosa Christian Ossouka Raponda to the NAM summit in Baku.

Macron, of course, found beautifully soulful expressions to denote the objectives of his trip to the Black Continent, such as "respect and balanced relations" or "solidarity and partnership". However, no amount of fine words or euphemisms can conceal France's colonial ambitions to maintain its precarious position in Africa against the growing influence of China, Russia, and Türkiye. And Africans are well aware of this. Any effort by the French establishment to restore its influence in Africa is tantamount to a futile effort to catch the departing train.

All the more painful for the French colonialists will be Aliyev's words, which reflect not only appeals but also concrete actions of NAM member states towards former colonial countries.

"I declare two global appeals here: in support of the post-pandemic reconstruction of Africa and Small Island Developing States. I am pleased to announce that Azerbaijan, as the first donor, is contributing $1 million to both global appeals. I believe that NAM countries and other members of the international community will support Azerbaijan's initiative and follow us in supporting countries in need on their path to post-pandemic recovery," the Head of State said.

Undoubtedly, President Aliyev's speech from the tribune of the second most authoritative international organization (after the UN), will significantly damage the mood and cool down the missionary fervour of Macron, as well as significantly undermine the pathos of the entire African campaign of the French leader.

However, France is not the main topic of our story, so let's leave President Macron "in his moment of wickedness" and look into the meaning of the Azerbaijani leader's further statements.

As expected, a significant place in the president's address was dedicated to the role of the UN Security Council. Our website has repeatedly written about the importance of Ilham Aliyev's initiative on the expansion of the Security Council, which does not reflect today's realities. At this summit, Aliyev voiced this problem again: "The composition of the Security Council should be expanded to make it more representative and geographically more equitable. One permanent seat should be given to the Non-Aligned Movement, and the country holding the chairmanship of the Movement should have that seat on a rotating basis". The Azerbaijani leader then called on member states to take concrete steps in this direction: "I call on NAM member states to start consultations on this issue and submit their views to the relevant UN committee. We also support the creation of permanent seats for Africa in the Security Council".

Considering that President Aliyev has also previously advocated a permanent seat on the UNSC for a Muslim country, we should expect the UN reform process to be initiated soon with the inclusion of new permanent members on the Security Council representing a broad front of countries and peoples previously voiceless. The ice, as they say, has been broken.

Aliyev also touched on the important issue of implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have been negatively affected by the pandemic. The Azerbaijani leader called for the creation of a high-level UN panel of experts on global recovery after COVID-19. "This panel could develop recommendations for global action for the post-pandemic period. I call on all NAM members to support this initiative," Aliyev added.

In the end, referring to the 44-day war, Aliyev again reminded the audience of the ineffectiveness of the UN Security Council, which had failed to contribute to the implementation of its four resolutions on the formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Touching on the subject of the war, Aliyev also drew delegates' attention to the problem of demining territories. Once again the head of Azerbaijan calls for action: "Azerbaijan is currently considering the establishment of a special national Sustainable Development Goal. Azerbaijan sees a direct link between the SDGs and the demining process, for mines are slowing down the process of recovering liberated territories and returning former internally displaced persons. Azerbaijan actively promotes the initiative to launch the 18th SDG on demining. We invite the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement to support this initiative".

Concluding his address, President Aliyev thanked the NAM countries "for the firmness they have shown in supporting Azerbaijan's just position and not allowing the UN Security Council to adopt unilateral and biased anti-Azerbaijani statements in both 2020 and 2022".

With these words, Ilham Aliyev not only expressed his gratitude but also, recalling a successful precedent, strengthened his determination to act together to protect the common interests of the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement.