Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused the French ‘Macron regime’ of intentionally stifling the process of decolonisation at the COP 29 summit in Baku.
He argued that France was getting in the way of international progress on the matter during his speech at the Leaders’ Summit of the Small Islands Developing States on Climate Change, which was held on November 13 as part of the climate gathering.
“French Polynesia and New Caledonia have been recognized as non-self-governing territories by the United Nations since 1946-1947. However, their decolonisation process is still delayed”, Aliyev stated.
He went on to criticise France over what he said was the impact it had had on the environment in those places.
“French Polynesia faced serious environmental degradation due to 193 nuclear tests conducted by France,” he said.
“France is responsible for severe soil and water contamination and radiation there. If we add the 17 nuclear tests conducted by France in Algeria during the years of occupation, we will see what damage this country made to the ecosystem of the planet.”
Aliyev also took aim at alleged incidents of human rights violations by France in overseas territories, claiming “the Macron regime” was guilty of killing and injuring numerous citizens during protests in New Caledonia.
The Azerbaijani President said: “The so-called overseas territories of France and Netherlands, particularly in the Caribbean and the Pacific, are among the most severely impacted” by the changing climate.
“The voices of these communities are often brutally suppressed by the regimes.”
According to him, the Council of Europe, which upholds human rights on the continent, and the European Parliament had failed at their jobs by not condemning France for its policies.
He said they stood as “symbols of political corruption” and “share responsibility with the government of President Macron for killings of innocent people”.
Aliyev has been critical to France before, using New Caledonia and Polynesia in his attacks.
In the summer of 2023, he said he wanted to help France‘s overseas territories secure independence.
“We will support you until you are free,” Aliyev told the latest forum, citing French territories that he said were still subject to colonialism.
Azerbaijan has been highly critical of France over its perceived interference, arguing that Paris had been acting “counterproductive” to peace in the region by arming Armenia.
After Azerbaijan conquered Nagorno-Karabach, France sent military aid to Armenia, much to the dismay of Baku.
At the European level, reactions were milder, likely because Brussels is dependent on the country to import gas.
In his opening speech on November 12, the leader of Azerbaijan had already attacked the West, accusing it of using “double standards” and having “a habit of lecturing other countries”.
He said: “Political hypocrisy became a kind of modus operandi for some politicians, state-controlled NGOs and fake news media in some Western countries.”
In a move angering Paris, Azerbaijani parliamentarians have hosted elected French Polynesian officials at a conference on the “decolonization” of their territory. https://t.co/RMiZvVe3rS
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 31, 2024
