Baku: Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, emphasized the significant cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the reconstruction and demining processes in the territories liberated from occupation. This statement was made during the 'WUF13 NGO Forum: Global Partnerships and Decision-Making' event, as reported by APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Ms. Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), was among the first high-level UN officials to visit these liberated territories. Her visit brought the expertise and vision of UN-Habitat to the post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Hajiyev expressed gratitude for her support and highlighted the crucial role of the NGO community in making the forum successful. He emphasized that the initiative's implementation relied heavily on the vast experience of the UN family in collaboration with NGOs.

Furthermore, Hajiyev mentioned the broader organization of the World Urban Forum in partnership with UN-Habitat, under the leadership of Ms. Rossbach. He noted the importance the Azerbaijani government places on developing the NGO sector, with a dedicated State Agency established to support civil society institutions. The government provides grants, financial resources, and implements training and capacity-building projects for NGOs.

Hajiyev pointed out that civil society institutions are integral to Azerbaijan's development programs, particularly in the liberated territories where significant reconstruction and demining activities are ongoing. He reiterated the commitment to international cooperation and partnership, encapsulated by the motto 'Think globally, act locally,' which guides Azerbaijan's civil society institutions' efforts.