President Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the eighty-second session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), currently being held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the address highlights Azerbaijan's commitment to multilateralism and regional cooperation. In his message, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Secretary-General for the invitation to speak at one of the UN's most influential regional platforms, which plays a vital role in advancing sustainable development, trade, and economic connectivity.
"Our meeting takes place during a period of increasing global uncertainty. Rising geopolitical tensions and expanding conflicts reveal the vulnerability of international peace and security," the President stated. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan's unwavering commitment to the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Ilham Aliyev noted that since 2021, the South Caucasus has undergone a profound transformation, with Azerbaijan fully restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He specifically highlighted that during the Washington Summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in August last year, historical progress was achieved in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The President emphasized that the fruits of peace are now visible, with trade relations commencing and Azerbaijan providing transit access for Armenia. Furthermore, the head of state detailed the large-scale reconstruction projects in the liberated territories, including the "Great Return" program, which has already seen over 80,000 people return to the Garabagh and East Zangezur regions. However, he warned that landmines remain a serious humanitarian threat, noting that over 400 Azerbaijani civilians have been killed or injured by mines since the conflict ended in 2020.
Regarding economic development, President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan's economy has grown fourfold over the last two decades, with poverty and unemployment dropping to approximately 5 percent. He also underscored the growing importance of the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur Corridor, which will further enhance regional connectivity by linking Asia with Europe. The President concluded by inviting participants to the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, which Azerbaijan will host next month.
UN ESCAP, established in 1947, is the largest of the UN's five regional commissions, covering a region that is home to two-thirds of the world's population. Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the 82nd session underscores the country's growing role as a diplomatic and logistical hub between Europe and Asia, particularly through its leadership in initiatives like the Middle Corridor and its recent successful hosting of COP29.
