BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12. Azerbaijan’s
chairmanship demonstrated that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an
effective platform capable of contributing to the development of
multifaceted regional cooperation, said Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant
to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the
Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential
Administration, Trend reports.


Speaking at the panel discussion titled “Crisis of
Multilateralism: Rethinking Global Cooperation” within the
framework of the 13th Global Baku Forum, Hajiyev noted that
Azerbaijan is a strong supporter of multilateralism because it is
important for small and medium-sized countries, adding that it
ensures equality.


"Additionally, it grants countries a voice at the negotiating
table, enabling them to contribute to the shaping of both global
and regional decisions. It also allows us to play a role in
influencing the broader international landscape. I believe that
when discussing the crisis of multilateralism, a more nuanced and
diversified approach to the agenda is required. If we examine
multilateralism through the broader framework of United Nations
terminology, the first pillar concerns peace and security. It is
precisely in this domain that the most acute challenges and
shortcomings are evident. However, multilateralism also encompasses
other spheres, including social, economic, technical, and
humanitarian cooperation. In these areas, it is possible to point
to several tangible success stories,” he elaborated.


Hajiyev emphasized that the first section, peace and security,
is largely related to the activities and mandate of the United
Nations Security Council.


“There are problems here related to the undemocratic and
insufficiently representative structure of the UN Security Council,
as well as a lack of global consensus and cooperation and
increasing fragmentation,” Hajiyev said.


According to him, as a result, the UN Security Council currently
has very limited capacity to act on global peace and security
issues.


Hajiyev also recalled that when Azerbaijan joined the
Non-Aligned Movement, some critics described the organization as
outdated and no longer relevant.


“However, Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in 2019-2022 demonstrated
that the Non-Aligned Movement is a vibrant and effective platform
capable of contributing to the development of multifaceted regional
cooperation. The COVID-19 pandemic also served as a test of this,”
he said.


He added that Azerbaijan’s active engagement has continued
within other multilateral platforms as well, including climate
diplomacy and its presidency of COP29.


“Although this was a new challenge for Azerbaijan, we proved
that we can ensure effective leadership. Azerbaijan’s COP29
presidency contributed to the adoption of important decisions such
as the carbon market and the loss and damage fund,” Hajiyev
concluded.


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