BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 29. Baku Initiative Group does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country and structures its activities within the framework of international norms, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov said, commenting on a report titled “Foreign Interference: How Azerbaijan is Trying to Destabilize France," which aired on French channel TF1, Trend reports.
“Unfortunately, like several other French media outlets, the TF1 TV channel is engaged in deceiving viewers by disseminating biased reports and articles against Azerbaijan, as well as against the Baku Initiative Group. This is also intended to justify the policy of colonialism in France and condemn the activity of the Baku Initiative Group and other civil society organizations demanding this country abandon the policy of colonialism. The mentioned video report is an attempt to cover up gross violations of international law and fundamental human rights in the territories held by France under colonial control,” he said.
Abbasov noted that the editorial board of the TF1 channel is well aware that the Baku Initiative Group, which is an international non-governmental organization, was established in 2023 within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Azerbaijan by representatives of peoples suffering from the colonial policy of France, and that the board of the organization includes official representatives of peoples seeking freedom from French colonization.
“This month marks the anniversary of BIG, whose main mission is to bring to the attention of the world community the consequences of the policies of colonialism and neocolonialism, to support, within the framework of international law, the peoples suffering from colonialism in their just struggle. Even though only one year has passed, BIG has organized more than 10 international conferences at UN headquarters (New York (twice), Geneva, and Vienna), as well as in various countries around the world, at the end of which the participants presented information to the head of France, to the leaders of international organizations about the colonial and neocolonial crimes committed by official Paris, as well as launched petitions. In particular, instead of speaking about the “role of BIG” in the riots in New Caledonia last May, it would be good to draw attention to the French government's disregard for the demands of the indigenous Kanak people to annul the results of the 2021 referendum and stop the illegal, targeted increase in the number of people eligible to vote.
Our struggle is not against a particular country or government, but against a colonial system that denies people the right and freedom to self-determination. We believe in the possibility of international relations based on mutual respect and cooperation, without exploitation or pressure.
The French media, accusing BIG of operating 14,000 kilometers away, may ask their government what the territories 17,000 kilometers away have to do with France?
The TF1 TV channel's biased position against BIG's activities is based on the fact that the TF1 group is run by persons of Armenian origin such as Ara Aprikyan. It should be noted that the French media, accustomed to flagrantly violating journalistic ethics, did not contact BIG this time, nor were they interested in our position.
BIG does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country and organizes its activities within the framework of international norms. Our organization will continue to struggle for a world in which the peoples affected by colonial policies will be able to fully exercise their freedoms and rights,” Abbasov said.
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