In the early 1990s, when we gained independence, we expected a lot from the international community.
elchi reports that this was stated by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan – Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, in his speech at the first General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform (GSNP) in Baku.
According to him, this did not happen, and Azerbaijan ensured justice itself: “We also ensured the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions ourselves. Therefore, as Global South countries, realizing that double standards and various challenges already exist in multilateral institutions and the international system, we must take the lead in our regions and ensure peace, order, cooperation, and joint action. Azerbaijan, as a friend and partner, is ready to contribute to all these initiatives. We are starting this from our own region. We are building peace, justice, cooperation, and joint action. Having said that, our goal in coming together with civil society institutions and NGOs of Global South countries is not to replace the official diplomatic channels of our countries. But I am sure you will agree with me that we can support their efforts in a complementary way. We can make the voices of our societies and communities heard better at the global level and respond to their expectations and aspirations. I am confident that by bringing together the potential of NGOs and civil society institutions through the General Assembly, we will contribute to these initiatives at the global level.”
At the same time, Hikmet Hajiyev noted that approximately 13 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory was contaminated with mines as a result of military occupation.
“However, we put an end to this, ensured our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and at the same time started a process of cooperation and dialogue with neighboring Armenia. This also demonstrates our good will, the good will of the party that won the peace,” the Presidential Assistant added.