Azerbaijan FM, UN Secretary-General's Assistant discuss mine threat, COP29

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Ivana Živković, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP's Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS, who was visiting Azerbaijan for COP29, Report informs, citing Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, they discussed matters on the existing cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and UNDP, as well as Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted the successful mutual cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNDP, particularly highlighting joint projects in advancing the sustainable development agenda, the creation of the National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development as an indicator of the country's systematic approach, and the submission of three Voluntary National Reviews so far.

The efforts to combat mine threats in Azerbaijan's liberated territories were discussed in detail.

Azerbaijan's development strategy based on vast green energy potential, regional and international projects in green energy, particularly the initiative to create a green energy corridor connecting the Caspian and Black Sea basins, were discussed. The importance of the "Strategic Partnership Agreement on Green Energy Development and Transmission between the governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan" signed during COP29 was emphasized.

The importance of active participation by international organizations, including UNDP, in advancing climate finance, which is the main priority of Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency, was emphasized.

The agreement reached on Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement on day one of COP29 in Baku, progress in launching the Loss and Damage Response Fund, and the increase in climate finance commitments by development banks from $75 billion to $170 billion annually were evaluated as significant achievements.

Ivana Živković expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNDP in various fields, particularly noting UNDP's special attention to mine threat response, and mentioned ongoing joint work with Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) to establish an International Center of Excellence and Training for Demining in Azerbaijan.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on other matters of mutual interest.