No: 317/26 Press Release on the Participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fariz Rzayev in the Ministerial Segment of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
18 July 2026 18:41
From 13 to 17 July, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev visited the city of New York to take part in the ministerial segment of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
In his address at the ministerial segment, F. Rzayev reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, touching upon the progress achieved towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that smart and green cities and villages are being built in the liberated territories within the framework of the Great Return Programme, and that the phased return of former internally displaced persons is being ensured, emphasizing that humanitarian demining is of great importance for sustainable development.
The Deputy Minister also touched upon Azerbaijan's contributions to global sustainable development through hosting COP29 and the 13th World Urban Forum, as well as through humanitarian assistance and technical cooperation.
Speaking at the informal ministerial meeting of the UN General Assembly on the theme "Stocktaking of the Pact for the Future," F. Rzayev emphasized the importance of the Pact for the Future being oriented towards practical implementation, national priorities and concrete results. The importance of multilateral cooperation based on financing, technology transfer and equal partnership for developing countries was noted.
He also provided information on Azerbaijan's role as a reliable partner in the fields of energy and connectivity.
Speaking at an event held during the Forum by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), F. Rzayev emphasized the important role of the Commission and the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) in promoting sustainable development and economic cooperation in the region. The Deputy Minister, noting that Azerbaijan, as Chair of the 82nd session of ESCAP, would continue to contribute to this activity, stated that SPECA could support the development of practical cooperation in the fields of transport, trade, digitalization, energy and innovation.
Subsequently, speaking at the event entitled "National Sustainable Development Goals:
Accelerating the 2030 Agenda through Explosive Remnants of War/Mine Action and the Use of International Legal Mechanisms," F. Rzayev noted that humanitarian demining has been declared the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal in our country, and touched upon the dangers posed by mines in the liberated territories following the conflict, as well as the obstacles they create to reconstruction works and to the return of internally displaced persons.
During his visit to New York, F. Rzayev also held working meetings with the deputy ministers of foreign affairs and permanent representatives to the UN of a number of countries, and took part in round-table discussions with representatives of research centers.
