Baku becoming center of dialogue for resolving key global issues - OPINION

Azerbaijan has already become a platform where global issues of universal importance are discussed, Azerbaijani MP Elchin Mirzabayli told Report, commenting on the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku on May 17–22.

The parliamentarian recalled that WUF is one of the largest international platforms in the field of sustainable urban development.

"This is not only about urban planning and architecture, because in the modern world, cities have already become the main space for the economy, security, social stability and even geopolitical competition. In this context, discussions related to urbanization have long gone beyond technical expert debates and have become part of the strategic agenda of many countries. The number of heads of state and government, ministers and leaders of international organizations participating in WUF13 confirms this. If several years ago urban studies were considered more a field of discussion for architects, planners and technical specialists, today this topic is at the center of political decisions.

"The fact that the main theme of the forum was defined as ‘Housing for all: safe and resilient cities and settlements" is also no coincidence. The world has already faced a deep housing crisis. The figures released by the UN show that billions of people are deprived of decent housing conditions. This statistic is not just an indicator of a social problem. These are challenges that will directly affect political stability, migration processes, social confrontations and humanitarian crises in the future. In other words, city management has become a matter of global security," Mirzabayli said.

Against this background, the MP emphasized the special importance of the Baku Call to Action document adopted in the Azerbaijani capital following WUF13.

"The document places concrete commitments and practical approaches at the forefront, rather than general declarations of intent. It is also no coincidence that issues such as affordable housing policy, adaptation of cities to climate change, inclusive urbanization and restoration of conflict-affected territories are presented in a single format. This is because cities of the 21st century are no longer facing separate problems, but closely interconnected crises," he said.

Mirzabayli said the holding of WUF13 in Baku was not accidental.

"In recent years, Azerbaijan has consistently positioned itself as a reliable international platform. The holding of WUF13 in Baku after COP29 no longer looks like a coincidental sequence of separate events. A systematic state strategy can be clearly seen here. Azerbaijan demonstrates at a high level its ability not only to participate in and contribute to issues of energy, transport and security, but also to the global humanitarian and development agenda. There is another important aspect of this process. Azerbaijan has a real practical model for the world in the field of urbanization and post-conflict restoration. Reconstruction and restoration work in Karabakh and East Zangazur, in fact, represents the construction of new cities and villages from scratch. This is not only about restoring destroyed infrastructure, because the concepts of smart cities, green energy, digital governance and sustainable living are being implemented in parallel. For countries facing post-conflict restoration challenges in various regions of the world, this experience is of serious interest," he said.

The parliamentarian also noted that Baku has already become one of the new centers of global political and humanitarian dialogue, as demonstrated by the holding of COP29 and WUF13 in the Azerbaijani capital.

"The most important point is that Azerbaijan participates in these platforms not only as a host country. At the same time, our country skillfully and with high professionalism presents its vision, development model and approach to the future. The fact that the title of the Baku Call to Action features Azerbaijan"'s capital is not merely a symbolic nuance. It is an indication that Azerbaijan has already become a participant in the political and humanitarian space where global decisions are shaped. In the modern world, such status is not gained by chance. It is backed by meticulous work, a long-term strategy, political will and international trust," Elchin Mirzabayli concluded.