Aliyev Calls on France to Apologize

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated during a meeting of the Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on combating COVID-19 that Baku urges the French government to respect the rights of New Caledonia and other peoples in French overseas communities and territories.

According to him, the territories under French rule outside of Europe are grotesque remnants of the French colonial empire.

“We also call on France to apologize and take responsibility for its colonial past, bloody colonial crimes, and acts of genocide against NAM member countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere,” stated Aliyev.

It should also be noted that Azerbaijan's animosity toward France is linked to that country's objective stance on issues related to Armenia.