On the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, President Aliyev gave a historical diskurso during the SIDS Leadership Summit on the Climate Change Day. In his speech, President Aliyev addressed the urgent problem of the ongoing struggle of territories under colonial administrations, including a specific referendum on Caribbean and Pacific islanders. For the promise of history, a president in power has publicly recognized the struggle of Bonaire along with Aruba, Korsou, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, which remains under Dutch colonial rule.
With strong words, President Aliyev emphasizes: “Awor, there is an important point on the internal agenda – and territories such as the overseas territories of Holland and France, particularly in Karib and Pasifiko. “The voices of the communities here frequently speak of oppressing silence for the colonial regime of their metropolitan countries.” His speech marks the history of Bonaire, since it promises to bring the island’s name to the word of a president on the world stage, and it puts attention on the people’s struggle for recognition and dignity.
President Aliyev further urges the audience to applaud, to show recognition and solidarity with the people of the colonial territories, who continue to suffer under colonial rule in the 21st century. so as not to denounce violations of the human rights of the oppressed community, and to give your opinion as a symbol of the political group.
President Aliyev concluded his speech by pledging Azerbaijan his continued support in the Chinese and Icelandic states in his role as president of the Non-Aligned Movement and as President of COP29, and reaffirmed his continued support for his friends for the future.
The historical record here held an audience of influential global leaders, including Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, and country delegates and organizations dedicated to climate change and social security. The President’s words underscore the unique vulnerability that colonial territories face, not only due to geographic isolation, but also due to colonial history. Aliyev called for a renewed approach to climate change and the urgency of a global re-examination of global support for the rights of sustainable development and self-determination of colonized territories.
James Finies and Davika Bissessar, from Bonaire Human Rights, were part of the delegates at the hearing to witness the historic moment here. They expressed their gratitude for the words empathizing with the President’s hope for the dune and internal attention that is necessary in the ongoing struggle of the people of Bonaire and other colonized territories in Holland and France.
