Azerbaijani president accuses France of abusing its status as UN Security Council permanent member

BAKU. Oct 20 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused France of abusing its status as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and engaging in geopolitical intrigues in various parts of the world.

"France abuses its status as a UN Security Council permanent member for pursuing a biased and partial policy and is engaged in geopolitical intrigues in various regions," Aliyev said in an address to the participants in an international conference on Neocolonialism: Violation of Human Rights and Injustice in Baku on Friday.

Azerbaijan is extremely concerned about the continuation of neocolonialism in the 21st century and a growing trend toward the emergence of its new manifestations, Aliyev said. "While about 70 years have passed since the Bandung Conference, there are countries still continuing to practice colonialism. France is one of and the first of these countries," he said.

Simultaneously with neocolonialist trends, racist and Islamophobic sentiment are also gaining momentum in France, he said.

"Some of the individuals present here have suffered from pressure, discrimination, and racist attacks in various forms. The French government, which should oppose such disturbing and dangerous trends inside the country, is trying to lecture other states and interfere in internal affairs of other countries," Aliyev said.

"As a country holding the Non-Aligned Movement presidency, Azerbaijan supports nations fighting against colonialism and striving for freedom," he said.

The recent withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso has shown yet again that "the policy of merciless neocolonialism pursued by France in Africa is doomed to failure," Aliyev said.