Azerbaijan, Moldova chart path for expanded legal cooperation

Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, Kamran Aliyev, met with the Prosecutor General of Moldova, Ion Munteanu, to discuss bilateral relations and legal cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting highlighted the successful development of ties in political, economic, trade, and other sectors, Caliber.Az reports citing the Prosecutor General's Office.

Aliyev expressed satisfaction with the progress in the relationship between the two nations and emphasized the continued growth of cooperation in various fields.

In turn, Munteanu expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and conveyed his hopes for further expansion of legal cooperation. He also praised Azerbaijan for its exceptional preparation for the global conference COP29, noting its potential contribution to addressing climate change.

The strengthening of Azerbaijan-Moldova relations is also underscored by Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s participation in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) on November 12. At the Leaders’ Summit, Sandu addressed the conference on behalf of Moldova, offering her deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani government for hosting COP29 in Baku.

"I am honoured to address you on behalf of the Moldovan people. I express my deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and the Government of Azerbaijan for hosting COP29 in Baku," Sandu said during her speech.

Sandu shared Moldova’s experience with climate change, stating that despite contributing only 0.03% of global carbon dioxide emissions, Moldova is the most vulnerable country in Europe to climate impacts. "Climate change is not a distant threat. It is a reality of the present, affecting our daily lives, the economy, and especially rural communities dependent on agriculture," she remarked.

She detailed the challenges facing Moldova, including reduced crop yields due to rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and erratic rainfall. "Walnut orchards, a central part of our economy and heritage, face new challenges. Access to water is becoming increasingly strained, affecting both agriculture and daily life," Sandu explained.

She stressed the need for a fair, accessible climate finance system that prioritizes vulnerable countries, stating, "Small and developing economies around the world are bearing the burden, often without the resources to rebuild. This underscores the urgent need for a fair, accessible climate finance system that prioritises vulnerable countries and builds resilience."

The Moldovan President also addressed the role of larger economies in accelerating climate action. "To accelerate climate action, existing funds and programmes must also overcome bureaucratic delays that can last for years," she said.

Reflecting on Moldova’s own climate efforts, Sandu outlined the country’s national afforestation programme aimed at increasing forest cover by 5%, demonstrating Moldova’s commitment to a greener future. "Despite limited resources, we are pursuing this goal for the health of our planet and future generations by improving air quality, biodiversity, and land use," she stated. "The recent global energy crisis has spurred us into action. We are reducing consumption through energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy. Nevertheless, decarbonisation is costly, and with more support, we could accelerate this crucial work," she concluded.

COP29, which is taking place from November 11 to 22 at Baku Stadium, marks Azerbaijan’s largest international event to date, as it hosts the first COP summit in the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova