Azerbaijan, UN Discuss Expanding Cooperation and Regional Security
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, on Sunday met with Dmytro Shlapachenko, the newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, to discuss the expanding Azerbaijan-UN partnership, regional security issues, and cooperation on sustainable development.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the current agenda of Azerbaijan-UN cooperation and explored opportunities to further strengthen collaboration across a wide range of sectors, while also exchanging views on regional and international developments.
Minister Bayramov highlighted the successful and long-standing partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Nations, noting that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic cooperation between the two sides. He described the upcoming milestone as an important opportunity to further deepen bilateral engagement.
The foreign minister underscored Azerbaijan’s active role in addressing global challenges, pointing to the successful hosting of major international events, including the COP29 Climate Conference and the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), as demonstrations of the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation. He also welcomed the signing of the 2026–2030 Framework Document on Sustainable Development Cooperation, describing it as the beginning of a new phase in Azerbaijan’s partnership with the UN system.
Bayramov further reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s readiness to host additional international events of global significance and emphasized the country’s strategic role as a reliable bridge between Europe and Asia. He highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding regional transport and communication networks, the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, and enhanced cooperation with Central Asian countries, including through the emerging C6 cooperation format.
Addressing regional security, the Azerbaijani foreign minister briefed the UN Resident Coordinator on post-conflict developments in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan’s large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the liberated territories, and measures being taken to facilitate the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of formerly internally displaced persons to their homes.
On the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, Bayramov stressed the importance of fully utilizing the existing opportunities to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.
For his part, newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator Dmytro Shlapachenko expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve in Azerbaijan and reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to expanding cooperation with the country across various sectors. He also emphasized the UN’s readiness to strengthen collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on additional bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, reaffirming both sides’ commitment to further enhancing the Azerbaijan-UN partnership.
