Last Wednesday in Baku, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sharply criticized the precarious situation of island regions still under French and Dutch colonial rule in the context of climate change. Aliyev made these remarks during a meeting of heads of state organized as part of the UN Baku Climate Conference, focusing on the role of small island states in addressing climate change.
Aliyev’s speech sparked outrage, particularly in France and the Netherlands, which have resisted dismantling the neo-colonial systems governing their “overseas administrative territories” with colonial status.
Strikingly, Finland’s chief negotiator at the Baku environmental conference, Outi Honkatukia, also found Aliyev’s speech offensive. Honkatukia called his remarks incomprehensible, claiming they distracted from the conference’s core objectives.
Helsingin Sanomat editor Petja Pell criticized Aliyev’s comments on French and Dutch colonialism, arguing that the focus in Baku should be on saving the planet rather than “offenses fostered by the host nation’s president.”
What Did Aliyev Say?
At the beginning of his speech, President Aliyev highlighted the connection between neo-colonialism and climate change. He emphasized that so-called “overseas territories,” particularly in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, have been disproportionately affected by climate change. These regions, according to Aliyev, are among those most vulnerable to its consequences.
“Archipelagos face serious threats from rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity. Administrative authorities, often centered in mainland cities, unfairly neglect the needs of island populations,” Aliyev said.
He specifically addressed France’s numerous colonial territories in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean, as well as the Netherlands’ colonial holdings in the Caribbean. Aliyev asserted that these territories continue to suffer from colonial rule even in the 21st century, despite UN resolutions calling for decolonization.
France’s 193 Nuclear Tests in Polynesia
Aliyev accused France of severe environmental damage caused by nuclear testing in Polynesia, including water and soil contamination and radioactive exposure exceeding safe levels by 4%. Between 1966 and 1999, France conducted no fewer than 193 nuclear weapons tests in the region.
He also pointed out that France had conducted 17 nuclear tests in Algeria during its colonial occupation, causing widespread harm to the planet’s ecosystems.
Allegations of Human Rights Violations
Aliyev further criticized France for recent human rights violations in its colonial territories. He referred to events in New Caledonia, where, according to him, 13 people were killed this year during lawful protests. Indigenous Kanaks, who make up about 40% of New Caledonia’s population, were among the victims. Additionally, 169 protesters were injured, 700 were arrested, and French security forces detained one protester during demonstrations in Martinique and Guadeloupe.
In May, France deployed about 1,000 armed police and soldiers to suppress protests in New Caledonia, with earlier reports indicating 1,000 security personnel overseeing French colonial interests in the region. Then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described these actions as “restoring order” under the directive of President Emmanuel Macron.
Aliyev criticized France for banning TikTok, which was widely used by protesters in New Caledonia. He also expressed surprise that neither the European Commission, the European Parliament, nor the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemned France’s actions.
“What else can we expect from the European Parliament and the General Assembly of the Council of Europe when the EU’s top diplomat calls Europe a garden and the rest of the world a jungle?” Aliyev said, referencing a controversial statement by Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
“If we are the jungle, then stay away and don’t interfere in our affairs,” Aliyev declared, demanding the release of all political prisoners held by France.
In response, France decided that its Minister of the Environment would not attend the Baku conference. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, categorically rejected what it called “groundless accusations of oppression” made by Aliyev during the conference.
Jaakko Laakso
Translated from naapuriseura.fi
