Azerbaijan extends COP29 invitation to Iraqi Kurdistan PM Aiming to strengthen bilateral ties

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iraq, Nasir Mammadov, extended an official invitation to Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to attend the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The invitation was delivered during a meeting on Monday, September 9, where the ambassador formally invited Barzani to participate in COP29, scheduled to take place in Baku at the end of 2024, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

In addition to the invitation, discussions centred on enhancing bilateral relations, with both sides stressing the importance of establishing consular services to strengthen cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the mutual benefits of expanding diplomatic and economic ties, expressing his commitment to fostering a closer partnership with Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is set to host COP29 in November, a decision confirmed during the COP28 plenary in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Baku is expected to welcome around 70,000 to 80,000 international guests, positioning itself as a central hub for global climate discussions.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to address human impacts on the climate system. The Conference of the Parties (COP), consisting of 198 member countries, oversees the UNFCCC's implementation. COP meetings are held annually, with the first meeting in Berlin in March 1995 and the secretariat based in Bonn.

COP29 will focus on global climate change mitigation, including adherence to the Paris Agreement, transitioning to alternative energy sources, and improving recycling and waste management practices.