Armenia’s occupation hindered Azerbaijan’s green transformation Presidential aide Hajiyev says

Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, stated that Armenia’s occupation policy over the past 30 years obstructed Azerbaijan’s progress in achieving significant strides in “green transformation”.

Hajiyev emphasized that had it not been for the occupation and aggression imposed by Armenia, Azerbaijan would have already made considerable advancements in its environmental and renewable energy initiatives, Caliber.Az reports.

He explained that the diversion of the country’s resources due to the ongoing conflict had been a major barrier to pursuing sustainable development.

Following the liberation of Azerbaijani territories, including the Karabakh and East Zangazur regions, President Ilham Aliyev issued directives to establish these areas as zero-emission zones. This move has allowed Azerbaijan to allocate more resources towards its green transformation policy and the development of renewable energy.

Hajiyev highlighted that while environmental sustainability and renewable energy have always been a priority for Azerbaijan, the removal of the occupation has enabled the country to mobilize greater resources and focus more effectively on advancing its green transformation efforts.

The presidential aide reaffirmed that Azerbaijan's commitment to environmental sustainability has gained momentum in the post-conflict period, with significant strides being made in renewable energy development and green initiatives.

Following the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and the restoration of Azerbaijan's full territorial integrity and sovereignty, the country has shifted its foreign policy focus to a broader and more global scale. Azerbaijan is actively contributing to addressing global issues and challenges, with its involvement in COP29 being a key example of this effort, Hajiyev said, emphasizing Azerbaijan's commitment to playing an active role in international discussions on climate change.

Hajiyev explained that Azerbaijan, since its presidency of COP, has been advocating for inclusive, fair, transparent, and result-oriented negotiations concerning climate finance. He further highlighted that President Ilham Aliyev’s speech at COP clearly articulated Azerbaijan’s position on climate diplomacy, which was met with significant attention from global media, experts, and foreign delegates.

According to Hajiyev, President Aliyev initiated an open and candid dialogue with the international community on climate issues, underscoring that discussing “green” transformation in broad terms is insufficient to address the global climate crisis. The President emphasized the need for direct, transparent conversations about the major polluting countries and the role they play in the global emissions crisis. Hajiyev stated that the views expressed by President Aliyev align with the perspectives of the global majority, especially reflecting the interests of developing nations.

Hikmat Hajiyev also pointed out that President Aliyev's position is fully in line with the principles of the Paris Agreement. When the Paris Agreement was adopted, it established the concept of "common but differentiated responsibilities," meaning that developed nations, which have historically contributed the most to carbon emissions since the industrial revolution, bear the greatest responsibility in addressing the issue. As such, the international community has high expectations for developed countries to set financial targets and provide meaningful contributions to the global effort to combat climate change.

Hajiyev emphasized that Azerbaijan's approach to climate diplomacy, as outlined by President Aliyev, is focused on fairness, transparency, and a commitment to holding developed countries accountable for their historical and current contributions to global carbon emissions.

By Vafa Guliyeva