Azerbaijan’s First VP terminates tenure as UNESCO goodwill ambassador

Azerbaijani First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva has sent a letter to Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay over terminating her activities as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

The National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO posted the information online, Report informs.

The letter drew attention to the importance of developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNESCO, and numerous joint projects with the organisation during Mehriban Aliyeva's tenure as a goodwill ambassador since 2004 to promote UNESCO's values and principles.

The Framework Agreement signed between Azerbaijan and UNESCO in 2013, the corresponding Azerbaijan-UNESCO Trust Fund, support to projects implemented in several countries for cultural heritage protection, girls' education, gender equality and other activities were mentioned in this regard.

The letter also contains information about the policy and acts of vandalism of Armenia against Azerbaijan's cultural heritage and historical monuments during the almost 30-year occupation. It was stressed that at the current stage, after the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from prolonged occupation as a result of the Patriotic War, the first vice-president is actively involved in the work on the region's large-scale restoration and revival, and, given her special role in this, she cannot fulfil the duties of a UNESCO goodwill ambassador.

In this regard, the hope was expressed for the speedy organisation and dispatch of a UNESCO mission to the territories liberated from occupation in order to assess the damage caused to Azerbaijan's cultural heritage as a result of the Armenian occupation.

It was noted in the address that the Republic of Azerbaijan will continue to be committed to the fundamental principles of UNESCO, to promote the development of cooperation with the organisation.