Azerbaijan places strong focus on small island nations, says envoy

Azerbaijan pays special attention to small island developing states, Elshad Iskandarov, Ambassador-at-Large of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated.

He made the remarks on April 22 in Bangkok during a high-level event on peace and climate resilience organised by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on the sidelines of the 82nd session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Caliber.Az reports via the ministry.

The event, held with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UNESCAP Secretariat under the slogan “Leaving no one behind,” brought together ministers from small island developing states, senior government officials, and representatives of international organisations.

In his keynote speech, Iskandarov stressed that, following instructions from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the country places special emphasis on support and engagement with small island states.

He also highlighted the importance of historic decisions on climate finance adopted during COP29 under Azerbaijan’s leadership, noting their particular relevance for countries most vulnerable to climate change.

The diplomat said Azerbaijan is also providing assistance in international technical support, climate resilience, and capacity-building for small island states, and referred to plans for cooperation in 2026 through the Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub, one of the key initiatives of the COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency.

Officials from Tonga, the Maldives, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, and Samoa praised Azerbaijan’s leadership in addressing global challenges and expressed gratitude for its support and attention.

UNESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary Lin Yang and an IOM representative also expressed support for Azerbaijan-led initiatives aimed at strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development for vulnerable countries, emphasising the importance of mobilising sustainable financing mechanisms and deepening international cooperation.

By Jeyhun Aghazada