BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. Historical and
cultural heritage sites still face various threats, despite
measures taken within the framework of international agreements and
conventions, Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Farid Jafarov
said at a panel session titled "Secure Model - Sustainable and
Empowering Cultural Revitalization of Post-Conflict Cities" within
the framework of WUF13, Trend reports.


He emphasized that the preservation of the rich cultural
heritage and its transmission to future generations is one of the
most important issues of modern times.


According to the deputy minister, the preservation of cultural
heritage is not only a matter of culture, but also an important
responsibility of states and societies. Therefore, projects and
initiatives implemented in this direction are of particular
importance.


Jafarov noted that under the leadership of President Ilham
Aliyev, large-scale restoration and reconstruction programs are
being implemented in the liberated territories. Alongside the
restoration of historical and cultural monuments in these areas,
important work is being carried out to reconstruct social and
engineering infrastructure.


The official pointed out that the reconstruction process in the
liberated areas continues consistently, and the cultural life and
historical image of the region are being gradually restored. These
measures serve both to protect cultural heritage and to form a
sustainable living environment in the areas.


Today marks the fifth day of WUF13 in Baku.


The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.


The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.







The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.


One of the highlights of the third day was the signing of a
sister-city memorandum between the Azerbaijani city of Shusha and
the Turkish city of Trabzon.


The fourth day of WUF13 featured a broad program of events
dedicated to urbanization, climate change, inclusive urban
development, housing policy, and sustainable governance.


One of the important events of the UN Special Programme for the
Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Cities Forum, held on the fourth
day, was the announcement of Almaty’s official accession to the
“Declaration of Intent on the Establishment of the SPECA Smart
Climate-Resilient Cities Forum.”


Also, for the first time in WUF history and at Azerbaijan’s
initiative, the “WUF13 NGO Forum: Global Partnership and
Decision-Making” was held.


WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.