President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the eighty-second session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
elchi reports that the address reads:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Under-Secretary-General for the kind invitation to speak at the eighty-second session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan.
UN ESCAP remains one of the most extensive and influential regional platforms of the UN, playing a crucial role in advancing sustainable development, as well as facilitating regional connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation. We are particularly pleased to contribute to this important work at a time when there is a need to strengthen multilateralism.
Our meeting takes place during a period of growing global uncertainty. Rising geopolitical tensions and expanding conflicts reveal the vulnerability of international peace and security, as well as the fragility of development achievements gained over decades. In this regard, Azerbaijan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Since I first spoke at this prestigious body in 2021, a profound transformation has taken place in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan has fully restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity and has embarked on a peace agenda with Armenia. A historic breakthrough in normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia was achieved at the Washington Summit held in August last year, hosted by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump.
Today, we are witnessing the fruits of peace. Trade relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have begun, and currently, Azerbaijan is facilitating transit access for Armenia. Mutual visits by civil society representatives contribute to building trust.
At the same time, Azerbaijan is implementing unique and large-scale reconstruction projects in the territories that were completely destroyed during the occupation and have now been liberated. The Great Return Program is being successfully implemented. More than 80,000 people have returned to the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions to rebuild their lives, reunite with their native lands, receive education, and work. However, landmines remain a serious threat in humanitarian and development fields. The problem of landmines, which also exists in a number of countries within the scope of the Asia and Pacific Commission, necessitates broad international cooperation in this area. Since the end of the conflict in 2020, more than 400 Azerbaijani civilians have lost their lives or been injured as a result of mine explosions.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Azerbaijan continues to pursue inclusive and sustainable development. Over the last two decades, our economy has grown nearly fourfold, while poverty and unemployment have fallen to around 5 percent. Large investments in social protection and infrastructure have improved the well-being of our population, which now exceeds 10 million.
Azerbaijan has achieved great progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by integrating the UN 2030 Agenda into its national development strategies, achieving successes in poverty reduction, education, and healthcare, and periodically submitting voluntary national reports that reflect our firm commitment to the principle of leaving no one behind.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan is strengthening its role as a key transport hub. In the current geopolitical environment, the importance of the Middle Corridor is increasing. The Zangezur Corridor will further enhance regional connectivity by connecting Asia with Europe and contributing to broader transport, energy, and digital networks, in full alignment with the priorities of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Azerbaijan continues to play its reliable role as a guarantor of energy security in various regions by contributing to stable and diversified energy supplies.
The end of the conflict has also created new opportunities for expanding Azerbaijan’s international efforts. Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the Organization of Turkic States and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, its admission to the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, the consultative meetings of heads of state in Central Asia, and the successful hosting of COP29 are manifestations of the international community’s growing trust in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.
In conclusion, I would like to note with pleasure that next month Azerbaijan will host the 13th session of the World Urban Forum. As a country involved in large-scale reconstruction and sustainable urban planning, we look forward to sharing our experience and learning from the best global practices at the session. I invite you all to participate in the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.
I wish the work of this session success. Thank you.”