BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. A Memorandum of
Understanding and Cooperation was signed between the Baku
Initiative Group (BIG) and the Institute for Prospective
International Studies (INHEI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Burkina Faso, Trend's
correspondent reports from the event.
The document was signed on the sidelines of an international
conference on “Media and Decolonization: Rising Voices, Amplifying
Narratives” in Baku.
The document was signed by Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of
the Baku Initiative Group, and Philippe Sandwidi, Director General
of the Institute for Prospective International Studies of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso.
“This collaboration is seen as an important step in expanding
the Baku Initiative Group’s geographic reach in Africa. While the
BIG has previously signed similar documents with political parties
and movements in various countries, the organization is now
beginning to collaborate with a government agency of a foreign
state,” the BIG statement reads.
The document will facilitate the development of
practice-oriented cooperation with leading research institutes,
think tanks, and civil society organizations in African countries,
as well as strengthen academic and practical ties between the Baku
Initiative Group and countries of the Global South and the
implementation of joint initiatives.
As part of this cooperation, the parties plan to prepare joint
analytical reports and policy papers addressing issues caused by
colonialism on the African continent, as well as matters related to
neocolonial governance, the exploitation of natural resources,
mechanisms of economic dependence, and reparations. These materials
are to be presented to the international community. The parties
also intend to expand their cooperation within international
organizations and to launch joint initiatives in these areas.
In addition, the agreement provides for regular dialogues, joint
research projects, and annual international conferences on issues
of decolonization and neocolonialism. These initiatives are
expected to contribute to broader coverage of the actual situation
in Africa, as well as the crimes against humanity committed by
major powers during their colonial policies. The memorandum also
provides for the participation of experts from the Baku Initiative
Group in events held in African countries.
In addition, there are plans to implement exchange and training
programs for young researchers, as well as to develop other forms
of academic cooperation.
Meanwhile, the conference became the first such platform
organized in Azerbaijan with the participation of media
representatives from former colonial territories.
The conference was attended by leaders and representatives of
media organizations from former and current colonial territories,
journalists, political commentators, representatives of diaspora
organizations, experts in the field of media and communications,
representatives of civil society institutions, researchers,
diplomats, representatives of government agencies, and local media
outlets.
Throughout the conference, participants discussed the role of
the media and the challenges it faces in amplifying the voices of
people and ethnic minorities who are subjected to neocolonial
exploitation and live under conditions of colonial dependence
within the international information space.
