New york: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres at the UN headquarters. The President of Azerbaijan first signed the UN book of distinguished guests before posing for photographs with the Secretary-General.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Ant³nio Guterres congratulated President Aliyev on the progress in advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, acknowledging the historic results achieved. Recalling his visit to Azerbaijan as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Guterres noted the dire situation of refugees and internally displaced persons at the time and expressed satisfaction with the resolution of these issues. He highlighted the large-scale projects undertaken by the Azerbaijani government to facilitate the return of IDPs to their native lands.
The Secretary-General also praised Azerbaijan for its successful hosting of COP29 and its contributions to the global climate agenda. He expressed gratitude for the organization of the event and hailed the development of cooperation between the UN and Azerbaijan. Guterres thanked Azerbaijan for supporting the UN’s activities in other regions and noted significant prospects for collaboration in addressing international crises.
Additionally, Guterres emphasized Azerbaijan’s active role in multilateral diplomacy, particularly its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, and its support as a donor country for various UN institutions. He acknowledged Azerbaijan’s efforts in fostering regional cooperation projects and establishing regional transport links with Central Asia.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude for the congratulations and underscored the historic significance of the results achieved in normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that there had been no peace in the region since both countries gained independence, but now peace prevails. The President highlighted the adaptation of both countries to living in peace as a significant achievement.
President Aliyev also discussed the large-scale restoration and reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, noting that over 53,000 former IDPs have returned to their native lands. He mentioned Azerbaijan’s commitment to regional and international peace agendas and its assistance to more than 80 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, President Aliyev referred to the upcoming UN World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan in 2026, highlighting it as an opportunity to share Azerbaijan’s experience in urban planning, particularly in post-conflict settings, with the international community.