How does the Netherlands mask its neocolonial policy under the shadow of France?”-ANALYTICS

In the 21st century, the Netherlands holds a special place among countries with a disgraceful neocolonial state status. Typically overshadowed by France's faltering and often tumultuous neocolonialist policies, the Netherlands has a rich colonial past rooted in history. Like France, it is reluctant to part ways with this past and is not in a hurry to grant freedom to the peoples it controls. On the contrary, unlike official Paris, the Netherlands pursues a cunning and seductive policy, attempting to create an appearance of stability by granting some rights to its colonies. The Kingdom of the Netherlands currently still has six colonies (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba), all located 8,000 kilometers away from the country's European borders in the Caribbean region. The status of these colonies varies. Until January 1, 1986, Aruba was a member of the Netherlands Antilles autonomous region. That year, it left the autonomy and gained the status of a self-governing state within the Netherlands. In 2010, a constitutional referendum led to the abolition of the Netherlands Antilles autonomy. According to the new constitutional amendment, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten gained self-governing state status, while Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became special municipalities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At first glance, these changes give the impression that the Netherlands is a supporter of modern foreign policy, but the steps taken are intended to cover up the eyes of the international community. The self-governing state status granted to the 3 island states has no real meaning and means the continuation of the colonial status. Because the status of the self-governing state given to the 3 island states is nothing but an imitation. None of them are subjects of international law, this right belongs only to the Netherlands. Official Amsterdam controls the foreign policy and defense issues of each of the 6 island states, the islanders have only Dutch citizenship. In fact, 6 islands in the Caribbean have the status of overseas states and territories and have no real right to self-government. The Netherlands, which keeps these areas under its control, uses the region's tourism potential, raw materials and geographical location, does not face any objection from the international community. It is the Baku Initiative Group that suffers from colonial oppression and suffers from the oppression of small island states across the sea. The Baku Initiative Group, like France, is also fighting against Dutch colonialism. In this context, on August 22 of this year in Baku, the international conference dedicated to the island of Bonaire under the colonial rule of the Netherlands, jointly organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BTI) and the Bonaire Movement for Human Rights and Change, showed its importance. The representatives of Bonaire island participating in the conference said that in the referendum held on December 18, 2015, 66% of the voters rejected the constitutional status applied in Bonaire since 2010. Bonaire sought international support for its re-registration as a non-self-governing territory in order to protect its right to self-determination and self-government. Apparently, the islands in the Caribbean Sea, whose problems and violations of law have escaped the eyes of the world community for many years, will be able to convey their voice to the whole world thanks to the Baku Initiative Group. Thus, even though it tries to hide its neo-colonial policy and teach democracy to the world, the undemocratic and exploitative policy of the Netherlands in the island states is exposed. Of course, the official Amsterdam does not like the steps taken by Azerbaijan in the direction of exposing the neocolonial face of the Netherlands. Recently, the Dutch authorities, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the parliament, have taken steps against Azerbaijan precisely with this factor. However, both France and the Netherlands, as well as the states that cannot digest Azerbaijan's independent and f air policy, must accept that such steps are not the way out. In the 21st century, it is unreasonable for countries that do not want to give up their colonial policy to complain to Azerbaijan and other countries and make some demands on them. Source: Azeri-Press News Agency

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