The Non-Aligned Movement and its ideas for a just peace in the world are more relevant than ever, and this has become even more evident over the past year. Recall that it was Ukraine's "desire to join" the NATO bloc and Russia's sharp rejection of such prospects that prompted the Russian military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

More than a year has passed and military action in Ukraine continues.  NATO countries, even in assisting Ukraine, have so far been unable to stop the war.

On the other hand, the existence of the "opposing" NATO CSTO bloc, some forces tried to use it for aggression and redrawing borders in the pro-Soviet space. The Armenian authorities, for example, clearly wanted to do this, with their provocations trying to draw Russia, as a 'CSTO ally', into the conflict with Azerbaijan.

Today, the division of countries into military blocs and the confrontation of the latter is a serious challenge to international security. The formation of a new world order is unfortunately not without confrontations, conflicts and wars because of this.

This conclusion may also be drawn from the speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the summit of the Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement on COVID-19 in Baku on 2 March 2023:

"The new world order is in the process of transformation. The whole world is now witnessing the most serious confrontation between East and West since the end of the Cold War, with consequences for the rest of the world" - stated Ilham Aliyev.

In the conditions of growing confrontation between military blocs, it is the Non-Aligned Movement that can become a real alternative to splitting the world into military alliances. It can promote the building of a new, stable and secure world, without wars and military confrontation, and with respect for the sovereignty of individual countries, regardless of their size and economic potential.

It is no coincidence that the President of Azerbaijan emphasised in his speech that: "The Non-Aligned Movement, as the second largest international institution after the UN, should play a more visible and effective role in the international arena and actively participate in the transformation of the new world order..."

However, the recurrences of the colonial system and the unjustified claims of former colonial empires hinder the construction of a new secure world, creating hot spots and hotbeds of tension in various regions of the globe. Here Ilham Aliyev had to mention the destructive policy of France, which still maintains remnants of its colonial empire in various parts of the world.

"Unfortunately, today we are witnessing an increasing trend towards neo-colonialism. The Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged from the historical process of decolonization, must unite in its efforts to completely turn over this shameful page in the history of humankind.

...The Non-Aligned Movement has always been a staunch supporter of the undisputed sovereignty of the Union of the Comoros over the island of Mayotte, which remains under French colonial rule. As reflected in the founding documents of the Non-Aligned Movement, we call on the French Government to respect the rights of the people of New Caledonia and other peoples in the French overseas communities and territories. The territories administered by France outside Europe are the abominable remnants of the French colonial empire. We also call on France to apologise and acknowledge its responsibility for its colonial past and bloody colonial crimes and acts of genocide against the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement in Africa, South-East Asia and elsewhere," the President of Azerbaijan said.

Unfortunately, not only does France not think of giving independence to its former colonies outside Europe in key regions of the globe, it also tries to foment conflict where its colonies never existed. Much of the support from France has inspired Armenian nationalists to demand "miatsum" (the annexation to Armenia) of Azerbaijani Karabakh and aggression against Azerbaijan.

Throughout all the years of the Armenian occupation of Karabakh, France, as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, has in fact done everything to freeze the conflict.  Unfortunately, today France is doing everything to frustrate the peace process in the South Caucasus region, and is supporting the Armenian revanchists against the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity of states and the unblocking of communications.

Gеоrge Kvinitadze