On July 30, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova addressed a panel at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament on the theme “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030: What new opportunities for international cooperation?”.

In her address, Speaker of the Parliament stated that serious concerns persist regarding the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Past experience demonstrates that a comprehensive approach is essential at both the national and international levels. 

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has achieved significant progress in its implementation. Four Voluntary National Reviews have already been submitted to the UN High-Level Political Forum. Furthermore, the Government of Azerbaijan has aligned more than 50 state programmes, national development plans and strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The implementation of the “Great Return” Programme, which envisages the reclamation of the liberated Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur regions of Azerbaijan as well as the return of the former internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native lands, is making a substantial contribution to the successful realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. While restoration efforts continue, more than 50,000 people are already living, working and studying in those regions today.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova then stressed that landmine contamination of the liberated territories remains the primary obstacle to their development. Precisely for this reason, Azerbaijan adopted the “Activities to Combat the Mine Threat for Safe Return, Resettlement, Restoration, Prosperity and Peace” as its 18^th national Sustainable Development Goal. Additionally, it has been proposed that this goal be established as the 18^th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations as a whole. 

In May of this year, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a Decree on the development of a new Development strategy for 2027–2030 and the “Second Great Return Programme”. The implementation of these documents will make an even more substantial contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Furthermore, it was emphasized that the timely and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the consolidation of efforts and mutual support in development matters, are of decisive importance

According to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, humanitarian, economic, and technical aid worth $330 million provided to more than 140 countries over the past five years clearly demonstrates Azerbaijan’s commitment to international cooperation. Since 2018, Azerbaijan has been providing full scholarships for higher education to students from countries of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The significant tangible outcomes of the COP29, which was held in Azerbaijan last year, will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the comprehensive realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Press and Public Relations Department
Milli Majlis