Anar Guliyev: Baku Standards to serve as basis for future WUF sessions - EXCLUSIVE

The Baku Standards will serve as a foundation for future sessions of the World Urban Forum (WUF), Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and national coordinator for WUF13, told Report.

Guliyev said the memorandums signed during WUF13 and the agreements reached will be reflected in the agenda of future forums.

"A memorandum was signed between the relevant ministries of Azerbaijan and Kenya. At the same time, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between relevant ministers of Turkic-speaking states. However, these are additional outcomes achieved within the framework of the forum. The main results of the forum are reflected in the final document of the ministerial meeting and in the appeal document titled ‘Call to Action.' This document is a call to all countries of the world and UN member states to address housing-related challenges," he noted.

Guliyev also added that Azerbaijan had for the first time proposed establishing a special urban planning award within the framework of WUF.

"The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) had various awards, but there was no separate one linked specifically to WUF. Azerbaijan came forward with the initiative to present and honor the best urban planning projects within the forum," he emphasized.