Azerbaijani parliament speaker highlights Nizami Ganjavi Centre's global impact PHOTO

Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova has highlighted the successful activities of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre during a meeting with a delegation led by Co-Chair of the Centre Vaira Vike-Freiberga. 

Gafarova warmly welcomed the guests, highlighting the activities of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre, which brings together distinguished individuals with vast experience and knowledge. She emphasised the significant importance that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, attaches to the Centre's work, Caliber.Az reports via the Azerbaijani parliament’s Press and PR Department.   

She stressed that the Centre serves as an important platform for discussing global issues and addressing challenges. She also pointed to the importance of the Global Baku Forums and numerous participants from various countries. During the conversation, Gafarova highlighted that in December 2023, Azerbaijan was unanimously selected as the host country for COP29. She noted that this decision was a recognition of Azerbaijan's efforts in combating climate change and a testament to the global community's trust in the country's ability to serve as a bridge, uniting communities and nations. 

Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency had undertaken significant efforts to engage all stakeholders and address their needs, despite the limited time available for preparation—only 11 months.  During the preparation process, Azerbaijan faced biased accusations, double standards, and disinformation campaigns. However, despite these challenges, COP29 successfully began its work and continues doing so with the active participation of all relevant parties. Gafarova briefed the guests about the parliamentary meeting held within COP29, which was organised jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Azerbaijani parliament. Delegations from over 90 countries participated in the meeting, where, over two days, they discussed pressing issues such as financing climate initiatives, mitigation, adaptation, transparency, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

At the conclusion of the discussions, a final document was adopted, reflecting the unified position of the parliaments on these important issues. The guests were also informed about the history, structure, and activities of the Azerbaijani parliament. During the conversation, Gafarova spoke about Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day second Karabakh war, emphasising that the country had put an end to the 30-year-occupation of the Azerbaijani lands by Armenia and restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. She also drew attention to the actions of France, which, after the war, continues arming Armenia, thus exacerbating tension in the region, and she elaborated on the issue of double standards in international politics. 

The guests were informed about the ongoing reconstruction efforts in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as the implementation of the "Smart City" and "Smart Village" projects as part of the country's transition to green energy.   Co-Chairs of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre, Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Ismail Serageldin, along with Centre members Rosen Plevneliev, Jean Baderschneider, and Dennis Francis, congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting COP29 at such a high level. The speakers emphasised the global significance of the event, which is dedicated to addressing environmental challenges. They highlighted Azerbaijan's growing international stature and commended both the country’s proactive efforts in environmental matters and its contribution to advancing green development on a global scale.  

During the meeting, the importance of international efforts to advance the global green agenda was emphasized, and opportunities for global cooperation in the fight against climate change were discussed. The topic of Azerbaijan’s support for small island developing states (SIDS) was also addressed. Azerbaijan renders assistance to these countries in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters and is actively involved in addressing their environmental challenges, as well as combating the negative effects of climate change.

COP29, which is being held at Baku Stadium from November 11-22, is Azerbaijan’s most significant international event to date and the first time the country has hosted a COP conference. The summit kicked off with the signing of the Host Country Agreement and other key documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. One of the central goals of COP29 is the establishment of a New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. To further this aim, the COP29 presidency has introduced 14 key initiatives designed to integrate climate action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

These initiatives cover a broad spectrum of critical areas, including the development of green energy corridors, energy storage solutions, climate resilience strategies, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the promotion of green digital technologies. A flagship proposal of the conference is the creation of the Climate Finance Action Fund, which is aimed at supporting efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout the event, Azerbaijan has continued to reaffirm its strong commitment to addressing climate change and promoting environmental protection. The unanimous decision to select Azerbaijan as the host for COP29 reflects the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate-related issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s central role in global climate efforts, emphasizing the nation’s dedication to tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova