Putin: Aggressive Manifestations of Neocolonialism Are Seen in West's Behavior Today
Muhammad Nooh Osman
On Thursday, the global stage witnessed a convergence of esteemed political figures and intellectuals, including heads of state and political leaders from Africa, Russia, and other countries, in Moscow for the Forum of Supporters of the Struggle Against Modern Practices of Neo-colonialism, echoing the resounding call "For the Freedom of Nations."
Colonial policy should have remained a shameful page of the past, but the West is still trying to resort to such practices, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, addressing the participants of the international forum "For the Freedom of Nations", which is being held in Moscow.
The forum opened Thursday in Moscow, marking the beginning of an event that will run through February 17 and include high-level delegates from 50 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, China, North Korea and others, including some NATO members.
Putin stressed that aggressive manifestations of neocolonialism can be observed today in the behavior of the collective West, in its attempts to exert economic pressure on other countries, deprive them of their sovereignty and impose foreign values.
"I consider your representative meeting an extremely important and relevant initiative. Neocolonialism is a shameful legacy of the centuries-long era of plunder and exploitation of the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America, and other regions of the planet. We see its aggressive manifestations today in the attempts of the collective West to maintain its dominance and supremacy by any means, to economically subjugate other countries, to deprive them of their sovereignty, to impose foreign values and cultural traditions," the Russian leader said in his speech read at the event.
President Putin noted that such a policy has become one of the main destabilizing factors in international relations and an obstacle to the development of all mankind. According to Putin, Russia has done a lot to collapse the foundations of the colonial system and support national liberation movements.
"And today we are ready to join forces in the struggle for true freedom and justice, for the progress of all countries and peoples, for the formation of a democratic multipolar world based on the principles of international law, respect for each other's legitimate interests, mutual trust, and creative cooperation," he added.
He expressed hope that such meetings would become regular events and contribute to the development of responses to global challenges.