Baku: During the international conference titled 'Belgium's Colonial Injustice and the 101-Year Path to Reparations,' held in Baku, Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, highlighted the need for reparations that extend beyond mere financial compensation. He asserted that reparations should aim to eliminate the long-term consequences of colonial policies and work towards restoring historical justice.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Abbasov stressed that focusing solely on financial compensation is an inadequate approach to addressing the issue of reparations. He pointed out that no amount of compensation or reparation could bring back the lives lost due to Belgium's colonial policies in Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi in the 20th century. Despite the passage of decades, discussions around reparation, compensation, and justice continue to be relevant today.

Abbasov emphasized that reparations should enable the people of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi to overcome the colonial legacy and build stronger, more developed nations. The primary objective should be to create conditions that allow these communities to progress with dignity and establish a brighter future, on an equal footing with other countries around the world.