International media outlets spread fake news to tarnish Azerbaijan’s image Minister says

Azerbaijani Culture Minister Adil Karimli has said that Azerbaijan was always deeply committed not only to its own cultural heritage but also to global cultural preservation.

Karimli made these remarks during a meeting of culture ministers at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The minister emphasised that all examples of historical and cultural heritage within the country are protected, regardless of their origin.

"There is a lot of fake news in the international media aimed at shaping a negative perception of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has repeatedly invited international organisations to conduct inspections and surveys on the state of historical monuments in the country, particularly in the territories liberated from occupation. A country making such an offer cannot harm any cultural artifact," he stated. 

Karimli also reminded that during 30 years of Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan's cultural heritage suffered big damage.

"Many monuments were destroyed. However, they are now being restored. Furthermore, efforts are underway to protect the violated rights of Azerbaijan," he added.

COP29, being held from November 11 to 22 at Baku Stadium, represents Azerbaijan's largest and most significant international event to date, marking the first time the country has hosted a COP summit. The event began with the signing of a Host Country Agreement and other important documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. A central focus of COP29 is the establishment of a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. In line with this, the presidency of COP29 has introduced 14 key initiatives that link climate action to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These initiatives cover areas such as green energy corridors, energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the development of green digital technologies. One of the flagship proposals is the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund, aimed at supporting the critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout COP29, Azerbaijan has demonstrated its commitment to climate action and environmental protection.

The unanimous decision to elect Azerbaijan as the host for this summit underscores the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in global climate efforts, underscoring the country’s dedication to mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova