Azerbaijan, UNDP hail successful cooperation
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani President and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) official has discussed the cooperation between the two sides.
President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Administrator of the UNDP Helen Elizabeth Clark on October 1.
The President said Azerbaijan's cooperation with the UNDP is successfully developing.
Stressing the importance of the participation of a delegation led by Helen Elizabeth Clark in the Baku International Humanitarian Forum, President Aliyev expressed his hope that interesting discussions will be conducted in the forum.
Expressing her gratitude for the invitation to the Baku International Humanitarian Forum, Clark stressed the importance of the fact that the event has a broad agenda. She said the UNDP is keen to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan.
Earlier in the day, Clark told reporters that the UNDP mainly intends to cooperate with Azerbaijan on strategic issues, and these issues are being discussed.
"Talking about strategic partnership, we mean cooperation in the economic sphere. It is known that Azerbaijan has already created its international development agency, which allows sharing experience and knowledge. We also imply such factors as sustainable development and modernization of public services," Clark said.
She further said she has great hopes with regard to her first visit to Azerbaijan.
"UNDP has been operating in Azerbaijan since the time when the country gained its independence," Clark said, adding that the UN program on the country will be updated, and the issues on creation of the UN governing board in Azerbaijan and UN's cooperation with the country will be discussed during her visit.
"UN has cooperated with Azerbaijan on such issues as the modernization of social services, sustainable development, granting women with authority and equal rights. During the visit, I will definitely meet with women leaders as well," Clark said.
She also added that the organization has just started the formation of this program with Azerbaijan, and it will be both a part of the UN program in the country, and a large part of the framework agreement on partnership between the sides.
The purpose of Clark's visit is to further deepen the existing cooperation in the areas of mutual interest and explore new opportunities for innovative partnerships between Azerbaijan and UNDP, the UNDP Baku office earlier said.