BAKU: Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, has issued a strong response to Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, accusing him of attempting to undermine the credibility of the COP process. Hajiyev’s remarks came after Borrell’s controversial statement comparing the European Union to a ‘garden’ and the rest of the world to a ‘jungle’, a comparison Hajiyev described as reminiscent of colonial-era narratives.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Hajiyev criticized the EU’s approach to climate change discussions, pointing out the struggles of small island developing states and overseas regions of EU member states that lack self-governance. He emphasized that Azerbaijan, as the host of COP29, provides an inclusive platform for all voices, criticizing the EU’s neo-colonial tendencies and its history of colonial rule and slave trade.
Hajiyev further condemned the EU’s External Action Service for instructing EU member states not to
attend COP29, accusing them of using diplomatic networks to discourage other countries from participating. Despite these efforts, he noted that the attempts to undermine the COP process were unsuccessful, with over 80 heads of state and 70,000 participants registered. Hajiyev reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to ensuring the inclusivity of COP29 and working towards global climate action.