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UNITED NATIONS

My acquaintance with the United Nations system started through all these organisations to first of all to use your
in 1995 when I was appointed by the President to be the time well and be able to represent your country to the
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Austria. I was at the same best extent possible in each of these organizations.
time the Permanent Representative to the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Secondly, you must be able to keep up with all the
the United Nations office in Vienna, and I had to work developments that these organizations have under way
closely with some very important agencies - The United these days.
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Azerbaijan has quite advanced relations with the majority
Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the of of the United Nations agencies and structures located
Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban here in Geneva, which means that I and my staff need to
Treaty Organization (CTBTO). The CTBT had been cover all things happening here as much as possible. Each
negotiated here in Geneva, but the implementation body of my diplomats is multi-functional, handling a lot of
was set up in Vienna. different topics. It's challenging, but it also keeps you fit.

At that time, life was quite dynamic. After Vienna, I Q: Your country has just celebrated 25 years of
returned to Baku, and worked as Minister of Foreign independence from the Soviet Union, but before that you
Affairs, and then I was appointed to Italy. While working also had a short period of independence 100 years ago.
in Italy, I was again in touch with the United Nations for How do you perceive that period?
the three major UN organizations based in Rome - United It is an interesting question and not easy to answer in a
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The short way, but I will try. Last year and this year we are
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) celebrating two important dates in our history. Last
and the World Food Programme (WFP). This was the year, in 2017, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of
second time that I was, so to speak, facing the United becoming part of the United Nations. We joined in
Nations organisations. March 1992. Being a member of the United Nations has
important political bearing. First of all, we became part
And finally, now I work here in Geneva, and this time of the United Nations family. Secondly, being part of the
my work is exclusively with the United Nations and United Nations not only is a privilege but it also implies
the affiliated agencies. Some of my colleagues are also a lot of obligations and commitments, such as becoming
ambassadors to Switzerland but this is not my case. members of international bodies, working groups,
Azerbaijan and Switzerland have a lot of bilateral relations conventions etc. So, we tried, and continue to try, in our
that require a separate ambassador, so, I have a colleague efforts - through both our domestic and foreign policy
in Bern handling those relations while I deal only with - to be full members of the international community and
the UN agencies here in Geneva. to respect our engagements.

Q: Only the United Nations organisations? But alone is The United Nations is best suited to countries like
already a huge job. Azerbaijan, small and medium sized countries. For us,
Well, that's true. Each organization has its own face, its the United Nations is the best protection against any
own mindset, so, you have to steer your way masterfully calamites and any problems. Bigger countries are also

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA 15