BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24. On September
23, as part of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly,
Azerbaijan presented an international technical assistance program
aimed at preserving the cultural and natural heritage of small
island developing states.


This was announced in a statement published by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.


Meanwhile, it was noted that the event titled “From Island
Heritage to World Heritage,” organized by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was attended by ministers
from small island states, permanent representatives to the UN,
members of the diplomatic corps, and other high-ranking
officials.


Speaking at the event, Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, noted that
strengthening the practical capacities of small island states and
expanding international cooperation are of particular importance
for preserving the cultural and natural heritage of these nations,
which face climate change and other environmental threats.


Emphasizing Azerbaijan’s commitment to cooperation and
international solidarity in this area, the Deputy Minister
announced that Azerbaijan will provide annual technical assistance
to the three island states in preparing tentative lists as part of
the process of submitting nominations to the UNESCO World Heritage
List.


In addition, it was announced at the event that the first pilot
phase of the program will include Guinea-Bissau, Palau, and the
Dominican Republic.


The foreign ministers of Guinea-Bissau and Palau, as well as a
high-ranking representative of the Dominican Republic, expressed
their gratitude to the Azerbaijani government for including their
countries in the pilot phase.


The ministers of Grenada, the Maldives, and the Bahamas also
praised the program in their remarks as a timely and targeted
initiative that meets the needs of small island states.
Representatives from Germany, Türkiye, Russia, and other countries
participating in the discussions emphasized that the program will
contribute to the development of international partnerships and the
protection of world heritage.


The event continued with a discussion of practical issues
related to the program’s implementation. It is expected that more
than 80 local experts from 39 island states will be trained under
the program.