In his speech at the “Summit of the Future” at the UN General Assembly, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan had experienced the most tragic consequences of violations of international and humanitarian law and faced injustice due to the failure to implement the charters and resolutions of key UN bodies. He underscored the importance of strict adherence to international law and the avoidance of double standards.
The minister also discussed the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, which contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the context of global challenges, such as climate change and geopolitical tensions, Azerbaijan supports the call for collective action to combat inequality. Bayramov noted that achieving the SDGs by 2030 requires the urgent implementation of political commitments, and Azerbaijan is actively working on 17 goals, 88 targets, and 119 indicators, involving various stakeholders, including civil society and the business community.
The minister highlighted that the liberation of the occupied territories has opened a new chapter in the attainment of the SDGs, and Azerbaijan has already invested $10 million in reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. The country has introduced a national project called “SDG 18,” which is action-oriented, and has called for greater international support.
Bayramov pointed out that Azerbaijan was the first country in the region to submit its Fourth Voluntary National Review on the implementation of the SDGs. He also emphasized that Azerbaijan has ended the illegal use of force and restored its sovereign rights, proposing a peace process with Armenia based on mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The minister drew attention to climate change as the greatest transnational issue of the century. In this regard, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November 2024. Bayramov stressed the importance of international cooperation and efforts to tackle climate challenges. COP29 will focus on raising ambitions in climate financing and creating conditions for concrete action, contributing to the global climate agenda and enhancing the resilience of cities to climate change.
