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International

UN Photo / Jean Marc Ferré

Mr. Vaqif Sadiqov

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other

international organizations in Geneva.

Please, tell us about yourself. What is your role environment. By doing so, we try to bring our
as Permanent Representative of your country vision and approaches on different issues of
to the United Nations Office at Geneva and to the United Nations global agenda.
UNECE? We recognize the importance and relevance
I am a career diplomat. Prior to coming of the multilateral system in these challenging
to Geneva in 2016, for five years I was times when multilateralism is under growing
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Italy, Malta and pressure. It is critical for small countries like
San Marino, and Permanent Representative to ours to be actively engaged in international
the United Nations Agencies based in Rome. diplomacy given increasing globalization.
In 2004 – 2010, I also served as Deputy Foreign Only through reinforcing the values of
Minister of Azerbaijan covering among other multilateralism and making it stronger, will
matters relations with UNESCO and the we be able to enhance peace and security,
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well good governance, promotion of human rights
as issues related to the multicultural and inter- and sustainable development. Therefore, our
civilizational dialogue. I spent a significant humble duty is to make our contribution to
time of my diplomatic career, 1995 – 2004, the work of the United Nations in addressing
as Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Austria and numerous and frequently very complicated
Permanent Representative to the OSCE and challenges all of us are confronted with in line
the United Nations Agencies in Vienna. with the aspirations of the people around the
As the Permanent Representative, I see my role world.
first and foremost as maintaining close relations
and advancing the agenda for cooperation of The same relates to our cooperation with the
Azerbaijan with the United Nations Office at United Nations Economic Commission for
Geneva, as well as with other United Nations Europe (UNECE). We enjoy a long-standing
and non-United Nations agencies based in and mutually beneficial cooperation with the
Geneva. As a member of these organizations, UNECE. We closely cooperate in the areas of
Azerbaijan actively contributes to their trade capacity building and trade facilitation,
important work in a rapidly changing global renewable energy and energy efficiency, green

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