BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 16. A panel
discussion on topic “Addressing the Global Housing Crisis Together”
was held on January 15-16, 2026, as part of the 35th High-Level
Meeting organized by Nizami Ganjavi International Center in
partnership with The United Nations Office in Geneva, Trend reports.


The panel featured Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee
for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, WUF13 National
Coordinator and Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).


The event, themed “Reshaping Multilateralism in an Era of
Divides and Transformation,” gathered more than 50 high-level
international participants representing more than 30 countries.


The urgency of collective action to uphold human rights,
international law and public goods, highlighting the central role
of ensuring adequate housing in sustainable urban development was
underscored during the panel as outlined in the UN-Habitat
2026-2029 Strategic Plan. During the discussions, emphasis was put
on the importance of translating global commitments into concrete
actions and accelerating solutions that ensure safe, affordable and
resilient housing for all.


In his remarks, WUF13 National Coordinator Anar Guliyev
mentioned that multilateralism is the most effective approach to
addressing global challenges that no country can solve alone,
including climate change, rapid urbanization, inequality and
sustainable development. He stressed the crucial role of cities and
human settlements as key spaces where global solutions are
transformed into practical action.







He further noted that Azerbaijan’s cities and infrastructure,
located at the crossroads of East and West, North and South, serve
as bridges connecting regions and societies. Speaking on the
large-scale reconstruction and integrated urban development
projects in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, Anar Guliyev emphasized
that these initiatives are not only aimed at rebuilding territories
but also at contributing to long-term peace, stability, and
regional cooperation. Finally, the National Coordinator invited his
international counterparts to participate in The Thirteenth Session
of The World Urban Forum, scheduled to take place in Baku, May
17-22, 2026.


Senior leadership and representatives of prominent organizations
such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development, the World Trade Organization,
the International Telecommunication Union, and the Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS also took part in the meeting.


Organized by Nizami Ganjavi International center in partnership
with UN Office in Geneva, the high-level meeting serves as a
significant international platform for strengthening multilateral
cooperation and addressing key global agenda issues.