BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. Peace is built not
only in courts or international institutions; peace and trust are
also formed at the local level, the Mayor of The Hague, Jan van
Zanen, said during the World Assembly of Local and Regional
Governments, held within the framework of the 13th World Urban
Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Trend reports.
"We meet again in Baku at a very critical juncture—not only
because 2030 is approaching alongside the ten-year review of the
New Urban Agenda, but also because the international context itself
is rapidly changing. What particularly strikes me today, compared
to previous forums, is how much the distance between global
discussions and everyday local reality has narrowed," he said.
Van Zanen noted that global challenges are forcing a rethink of
multilateralism to make it a more inclusive, multi-level, and
action-oriented system.
"Because the crisis has not affected everything. There is a
system of multilateralism that is not only far from being in
crisis, but continues to strengthen and develop. This is the system
built by cities and regions. A system based on proximity to people,
solidarity, and inclusiveness," the mayor said.
"The global municipal movement demonstrates that cooperation
between territories is not only possible, but is capable of driving
profound transformations," Van Zanen concluded.
