Azerbaijan ready to contribute expertise at events like WUF13: Opinion

Azerbaijan ready to contribute expertise at events like WUF13: Opinion

Azerbaijan has experience in hosting major events such as the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) and is ready to share its experience in this regard, political scientist Fikrat Sadigov said in his statement to Olaylar.

He noted that Azerbaijan expressed its position on the issues raised at the forum and demonstrated at the session its readiness to cooperate with certain states:

"Urban planning problems were discussed within the framework of special sessions in a dialogue format. A number of positions were voiced once again, and the importance of further cooperation was emphasized. Members of the delegations specifically noted that Baku was highly prepared to host the event.

Each country has its own specificities related to urban planning and urbanization. For example, in Azerbaijan, the mine threat still remains after the Karabakh war. We are trying to fully resolve the problem. The support of international organizations is also needed here. Because mine contamination poses serious risks to security. Azerbaijan has also made calls for cooperation with a number of countries in this regard".

Sadigov believes that the special attention given to the concept of urbicide in the Baku Call to Action document is also one of the important points:

"Because the deliberate destruction of cities, settlements, and cultural heritage during wars is a matter of international security and humanitarian law. Quite justifiably, Azerbaijan, against the backdrop of the large-scale destruction it faced in the territories liberated from occupation, wants to see a faster international response to similar cases in the future by bringing the topic to the agenda at the session and on a global scale.

A total of 27 heads of state and government participated in WUF13. Within the framework of the forum, 150 ministers, 130 city mayors, the UN deputy secretary-general, and other high-level officials participated. This is an indicator that the event was received at a high level".