Azerbaijan ‘realizes threats’ posed by conflicts, FM tells UN
Azerbaijan fully realizes the threats and challenges facing the countries with unresolved conflicts, including those in Africa, as a state suffering from the occupation of a large part of its territory by Armenia and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of its citizens, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told the UN Security Council meeting on the United Nations-African Union Partnership.
According to Mammadyarov, development of the common guidelines by the UN and the African Union as a framework for mediation in Africa will contribute to achieving peace and preventing conflicts. It is crucial that all member countries implement their obligations as laid down by the UN with respect to the sovereignity, territorial integrity and political independence of states, he said.
"Over the recent period, Azerbaijan has significantly developed its cooperation with the African Union and its member states. Azerbaijan is actively participating in implementing various assistance programs for Africa. Azerbaijan has responded to the appeals of respective governments and international organizations to provide urgent aid aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa and other African countries," said Mammadyarov.
According to him, Azerbaijan contributed to support "Institutional Capacity Building Programme" of the African Union Commission and offered scholarships for diplomats from African countries to study in Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy.
"Azerbaijan has also joined the work of one of the Peacebuilding commission's country-specific configurations and looks forward to continue its efforts in this regard. We have started consultations with the relevant stakeholders to apply in Africa our rich experience in the field of demining provided by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action," the minister said.
Mammadyarov pointed out that Azerbaijan looks forward to advancing its cooperation with AU Commission and African countries and is planning to host in cooperation with the United Nations and the African Union a high-level international conference on issues of Africa's concern.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister is attending meetings of the UN Security Council in New York.
Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo, which were elected to the organization for 2012-2013 during the elections held at the General Assembly in October 2011, assumed their authorities as the UNSC non-permanent members on Jan.1. They replaced Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria at the UNSC Council, whose two-year term expired on Dec.31, 2011.