Azerbaijan's foreign minister addresses UN development summit

Mr. President,

It is one of the historic moments as we have gathered to take a decision on the adoption of a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centered set of universal and transformative goals. I commend the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the post-2015 Development Agenda.

As one of the fastest growing economies, Azerbaijan has achieved impressive results in the field of development. Despite global economic and financial crises, in the first half of 2015 Azerbaijan registered economic growth of 5.7%, with the growth in the non-oil sector was 9.2%. Azerbaijan has managed to become one of crucial players of the global market in energy infrastructure projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline through the construction of Trans-Anatolian and Trans-Adriatic natural gas pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor which will connect energy pipeline networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania and Italy. Azerbaijan also has initiated strategic transport infrastructure projects, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project which will connect railroads systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, and the new Baku International Sea Trade Port allowing short and efficient connection between East and West as reviving ancient Silk Road.

With a view to delivering equitable and efficient services to the citizens, the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations was established in Azerbaijan. This Agency already covers most of the goals of a new sustainable development agenda adopted by our Summit yesterday. Success of this innovative model is widely recognized and was awarded with the United Nations Public Service Award 2015.

The commitment to contribute to international development is widely shared across our public. The leading non-governmental organization in Azerbaijan, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, has implemented numerous social, humanitarian and development projects in a number of countries.

We attach primary importance to the promotion of intercultural dialogue, religious tolerance and understanding among peoples. Azerbaijan is going to host the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in 2016. We are proud that the First European Games was held this year in Azerbaijan, and in 2017 Azerbaijan will host the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Regretfully, the challenges to peace and security were and are one of the impediments to the regional sustainable development and cooperation. The ongoing military occupation by neighbouring Armenia of almost 20% of the territories of Azerbaijan, in blatant violation of international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, continues to represent a serious threat to international peace and security. By impudently violating basic conventional human rights, Armenia carried out ethnic cleansing policy against almost one million Azerbaijani population in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in Armenia itself. As a result they became refugees and internally displaced. Putting an end to the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan and ensuring the return of the forcibly displaced people to their homes, is an essential element for the implementation of sustainable development agendas in our region.