The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum, due to begin in Baku on Sunday (17 May), is an ideal opportunity for Azerbaijan to show the world what successful post-conflict urban development looks like, a representative for the conference has said.
Eldar Rasulov, Senior Manager for Content and Media Relations at the World Urban Forum 13, told AnewZ’s Nadia Gyane on Friday that Azerbaijan will showcase the progress it has made in reconstructing the liberated territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur at the U.N. urbanisation event.
“It’s now a really good time for Azerbaijan to show how urban development could actually look after post-conflict,” he said.
“We are showcasing the reconstruction process that we've made so far in a short period of time. [...] We want to show regional countries how we rebuilt, how we are still rebuilding those territories, and how smartly we are trying to do that,” he added.
As part of Azerbaijan’s Great Return Programme, large-scale restoration and construction work is being carried out in Karabakh and East Zangezur, with schools, hospitals, power plants and homes under construction, the country’s President, Ilham Aliyev, has previously said.
Rasulov said the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, had also undergone significant changes over the past decade, becoming greener and less car-focused.
“If you ask any citizen how Baku changed in a 10-year timeline, there are lots of things. When we're talking about green vehicles, scooter lanes, micromobility, and issues like that, the city is changing its look,” he said.
The tagline for this year’s conference is ‘Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities’.
At a time when major cities around the world are facing severe housing crises and three billion people globally face some form of housing insecurity, the theme could not be more relevant, Rasulov said.
“It’s becoming more and more an agenda on a number of governments' lists in relation to housing and just housing in general,” he said.
The World Urban Forum 13 will run from 17 May to 22 May at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump...
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed aga...
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of confli...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central...
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
An armed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on a Black Sea beach in northern Türkiye on Sunday, prompting a security operation and the controlled detonation of its munitions.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being recruited by a mystery figure known only as "EL Money".
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed against Iranians by Israel and the United States.
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
An armed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on a Black Sea beach in northern Türkiye on Sunday, prompting a security operation and the controlled detonation of its munitions.
Fighting in southern Lebanon eased on Monday after a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending months of regional conflict was announced, although uncertainty remained over how the deal would be implemented on the ground.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday welcomed the newly announced peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, urging all parties to exercise restraint and work towards a lasting settlement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment