Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, during a conversation with Gwi-Yeop Son, the UN’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, stated that Azerbaijan “has reconsidered its priorities in cooperation with the UN” based on “the realities of the new era.”
During Monday’s meeting, Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan would continue its future collaboration with “certain UN agencies” — specifically the UN Habitat Program, the UN Environment Program, and the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change — through a “project-based cooperation mechanism, aligned with national priorities.”
Bayramov reportedly noted that “issues within the UN’s activities are hindering global peace efforts.”
On Sunday, the pro-government outlet Caliber reported that the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had been instructed to “leave” Azerbaijan, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Similar to Caliber’s coverage, Bayramov pointed out that the socio-economic advancements in Azerbaijan in recent years have enabled the country to rely on its own resources and capabilities for social projects, reducing its dependency on international organizations for support.
Bayramov also remarked that Azerbaijan had transitioned from being a recipient nation to a contributor, a shift that calls for a new approach to cooperation.
In response, Son expressed satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s organization of COP29 and its implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijani state media outlet APA reported that Fahrettin Altun, Head of the Communications Department of the Turkish Presidential Administration, delivered a video address during a public forum in Baku, affirming that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also supports reforms within the UN.
Header image: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov meets with the UN’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Gwi-Yeop Son in Baku on 3 March 2025. Official image.
