President Ilham Aliyev Highlights Success of WUF13 in Baku
Baku, The Gulf Observer: President Ilham Aliyev has shared a statement on his official social media accounts highlighting the successful hosting of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku.
In his message, President Aliyev described WUF13 as another landmark global event hosted by Azerbaijan, noting that it became the second largest international gathering ever held in the country after COP29.
The President congratulated all participants, partners, and the United Nations family, particularly UN-Habitat, for the successful and results-oriented organization of the forum.
According to the statement, WUF13 attracted a record participation of nearly 60,000 attendees, making it the largest World Urban Forum ever held. President Aliyev also emphasized that the first-ever Leaders’ Segment, organized at Azerbaijan’s initiative, added significant political momentum to the global urban agenda.
The discussions and engagements during the forum resulted in the adoption of two major outcome documents — the Chair’s Summary and the Baku Call to Action — aimed at advancing international cooperation on sustainable urban development.
President Aliyev further highlighted Azerbaijan’s experience in post-conflict reconstruction, stating that the country, having suffered from urbicide, culturcide, and ecocide, is currently rebuilding nine cities and hundreds of villages in the regions of Garabagh and East Zangezur.
He noted that Azerbaijan’s reconstruction and redevelopment efforts received strong recognition from the international community during the forum and were presented as a valuable example for other post-conflict regions around the world.
The President also stressed that the ideas and recommendations emerging from WUF13 — including issues related to clean air, sustainable urban development, preservation of cultural heritage, and the challenges facing Small Island Developing States — would contribute to strengthening and shaping the global urban agenda.
Concluding his message, President Aliyev described WUF13 as another meaningful contribution by Azerbaijan to multilateralism and collective international action at a time of increasing global uncertainty.
