Azerbaijan, UN-Habitat hold talks on WUF13 preparations in Baku

Azerbaijan, UN-Habitat hold talks on WUF13 preparations in Baku
President of Azerbaijan received Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 16 May, 2026.
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Azerbaijani President met with UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach in Baku on 16 May ahead of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), with both sides highlighting Azerbaijan’s preparations and expanding cooperation in urban development.

Rossbach praised Azerbaijan’s preparations for the forum, saying she was impressed by the innovative approaches being applied to the event.

During the meeting, she emphasised that Azerbaijan’s hosting of WUF13 shortly after COP29 was significant, describing both events as among the largest within the UN system.

Rossbach also praised Azerbaijan’s voluntary financial contributions to UN-Habitat and highlighted cooperation between the organisation and Azerbaijani institutions, including the country’s National Urban Planning Forums.

Reconstruction and urban planning experience

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan had taken all necessary steps to ensure WUF13 is held at a high level.

The president noted that he had recently reviewed preparations at the Baku Olympic Stadium and expressed hope that the forum would produce practical and long-term outcomes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Aliyev also highlighted Azerbaijan’s post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories, as well as the country’s experience in urban planning and infrastructure development. 

Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat sign Letter of Intent

The sides also discussed future cooperation between Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat and welcomed the continued partnership.

Following the meeting, a Letter of Intent was signed between Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and UN-Habitat.

The document aims to develop operational guidelines for future World Urban Forum host countries based on the standards and preparation model applied for WUF13 in Baku. 

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