BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. The media is one of
the main driving forces of the decolonization process, the
executive director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), Abbas
Abbasov, told reporters on the sidelines of an international
conference on “Media and Decolonization: Rising Voices, Amplifying
Narratives”, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


"Over the past three years, the media has played a significant
role in expanding global awareness of decolonization and bringing
the consequences of colonial policies to the international agenda,"
he explained.


According to him, one of the parties and organizations that have
made the most significant contribution to the decolonization
process at the international level over the past three years has
been the BIG.


"As a result of the activities we have carried out over the past
three years, we have further educated the world community about
colonial crimes, the consequences of colonial policies, and the
progress of the decolonization process. As a result of the
constructive activities carried out by our organization on various
international platforms, we have brought these issues to the
attention of international organizations in various directions, not
only at the political level," Abbasov noted.


The BIG representative pointed out that currently, the UN, UN
institutions, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international
organizations are more often including issues related to
decolonization on their agendas.


"This is naturally the result of the educational process.
Undoubtedly, media representatives and news agencies played a
special role in this process. On behalf of the Baku Initiative
Group and all parties involved in the decolonization process, I
would like to express my deep gratitude to media representatives.
Without you, the world community would not be so aware of the
consequences of colonial policies. Today, one of the parties
playing the most important role in the decolonization process is
news agencies and media representatives," he emphasized.


He noted that the current initiative implemented with
journalists is the second project of the BIG in this direction.


According to Abbasov, a media tour was organized in Azerbaijan
for media representatives operating in overseas territories in
2024. That program featured communication training at ADA
University, as well as bilateral meetings with relevant government
agencies and information agencies, and an exchange of views.


"Today, in 2026, we are holding an international conference on
the role of media representatives in decolonization.
Representatives of local and foreign media are participating in
this conference, and views are being exchanged. Such initiatives
will make a very important contribution to the decolonization
process in the future," added the BIG official.