BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 10. A delegation led by
Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan and COP29
Chief Negotiator Yalcin Rafiyev participated in the event
"Türkiye's Path to COP31: Sustainable Cities" held in Hatay,
Türkiye, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry.
Ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of international
organizations representing various countries participated in the
event, organized as part of COP31. Under the theme "Sustainable
Cities," issues of urban planning resilient to climate change and
natural disasters were discussed.
Speaking at the high-level meeting, Deputy Minister Yalcin
Rafiyev emphasized the special moral significance of holding the
event in the city of Hatay, which suffered a devastating earthquake
three years ago but was quickly rebuilt thanks to the efforts of
the Turkish government, and stated that this exemplary experience
demonstrates the practical application of a modern urban planning
model that is resilient to climate change and natural
disasters.
It was also noted that 2026 has been declared the "Year of Urban
Development and Architecture" in Azerbaijan, which draws attention
to the construction of "green," safe, and sustainable cities in the
liberated territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the UN
Sustainable Development Goals.
Rafiyev stated that the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum
(WUF13), which will be held in Baku on May 17-22, will make a
significant contribution to the global urban agenda, and,
emphasizing the importance of a coordinated approach between the
COP31 and WUF processes, noted that Azerbaijan is ready to closely
cooperate with the Turkish Presidency of COP31 in this
direction.
Speaking at a ministerial roundtable chaired by Türkiye's
Minister of Environment and Urban Development Murat Kurum, Rafiyev
expressed support for the Hatay Declaration adopted at the event,
stating that the ideas outlined in this declaration are intended to
make a significant contribution to international climate policy and
the sustainable urban development agenda within the framework of
both WUF13 and COP31.
