President of Azerbaijan denounces ‘colonial’ French and Dutch overseas territories during COP29

He then listed areas, which he called “colonies,” and examples of how French and Dutch rule had caused “environmental degradation,” such as the French nuclear tests in French Polynesia and Algeria.

Aliyev then spoke at length about this year’s violent unrest in New Caledonia, which he blamed on the “regime” of President Emmanuel Macron.

France has accused Azerbaijan of interfering in its internal affairs, especially in New Caledonia. For example, Azerbaijan has created the Baku Initiative Group, which brings together fourteen political movements in the former French empire in the name of decolonization, and has built ties with local political figures calling for the autonomy or independence of the French overseas territories.

He also attacked the Council of Europe – the continent’s human rights watchdog – and the European Parliament for failing to condemn France’s handling of the situation.

“The European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe … became symbols of political corruption and share responsibility with President Macron’s government for the murder of innocent people,” Aliyev said.

Aliyev’s comments on Wednesday, which were met with enthusiastic applause from attendees at the island summit, come just one day after he used his opening speech at COP29 to attack Western “hypocrisy”.

Neither French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron nor his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof are present at COP29. The foreign ministries of the two countries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Victor Goury-Laffont contributed to this report.