BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. The United
Nations will expand cooperation with Azerbaijan in mine action, UN
Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Dmytro Shlapachenko told
Trend, on the sidelines of the
2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku
today.


"The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with financial
support from the European Union, is in the final stage of
negotiations with the Government of Azerbaijan to implement the
first mine action program. We believe this is only the beginning
and that it will expand further," Shlapachenko said.


He noted that the UN hopes these initiatives will grow and that
more opportunities will emerge for the organization to expand its
work in Karabakh.


"Because this will remain a strategic priority for us in the
coming years. From a strategic perspective, I see a need for the
United Nations to be more actively involved in Karabakh and East
Zangezur. For this reason, in October, the United Nations will hold
a strategic dialogue with the Government of Azerbaijan on Karabakh.
We are still finalizing the dates, but I think it will be around
United Nations Day, which would carry symbolic significance.


We will begin this strategic discussion to understand the
government's priorities for Karabakh and East Zangezur and how the
UN can support them," he said.







Shlapachenko added that opportunities may also emerge for the UN
to organize lectures at Karabakh University and inform students
about the UN's global vision supported by its member states.


The second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum is being
held in Baku.


The two-day forum is organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of
Economy and its subordinate Azerbaijan Export and Investment
Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), in strategic partnership with European
House – Ambrosetti.


Plenary and panel sessions at the event will address strategic
issues including the Middle Corridor, energy and the green
transition, artificial intelligence and digital transformation,
infrastructure, industry and free economic zones, critical raw
materials, agribusiness, financial cooperation, small and
medium-sized business development, tourism, real estate and
investment in human capital.