Baku: A post related to WUF13 has been shared on the social media account of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, APA reports. The post highlights Azerbaijan’s role in hosting WUF13, a significant global event, marking it as the second largest international gathering in the country after COP29.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the President’s post congratulates all participants, partners, and the UN family, particularly UN-Habitat, for the successful and outcome-focused WUF13. The forum recorded a historic attendance of around 60,000 participants, making it the largest World Urban Forum ever. The introduction of the first-ever Leaders’ Segment, initiated by Azerbaijan, added substantial political momentum to the global urban agenda.
The discussions at WUF13 produced two key outcome documents – the Chair’s Summary and the Baku Call to Action. Azerbaijan, having endured urbicide, culturcide, and ecocide, is actively rebuilding nine cities and hundreds of villages in Garabagh and East Zangezur. The post underscores the international community’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s reconstruction efforts as a valuable model for other post-conflict areas globally.
The ideas developed during the forum, reflected in the outcome documents, address issues from clean air and sustainable urban development to cultural heritage preservation and the needs of Small Island Developing States. These will further enhance and direct the global urban agenda. In a time of increasing global uncertainty, WUF13 stands as a notable contribution by Azerbaijan to multilateralism and collective action for a better future.