72,000 participants from 196 countries, 80 presidents,VPs, PMs attended the Conference
Western fake news media, so-called INGOs,some politicians made us Target of Blackmail
President Ilham Brings BAD NEWS for Perpetrators – Mentions EU ,France, Netherlands as Hypocrites
Monitoring Desk
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in his addresses at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 used strict remarks about the West, EU, France and Netherlands that left them all with no other option than licking their wounds finding no befitting reply to the host of the conference. He criticized France and the Netherlands for what he described as “repression” and ongoing colonial rule.
President said, “Unfortunately, double standards, the habit of lecturing other countries, and political hypocrisy have become a kind of modus operandi for some politicians, state-controlled NGOs, and fake news media in some Western countries.”
The President highlighted the threat of climate change to the overseas territories of European countries such as Mayotte and Curaçao, accusing France and the Netherlands of “brutally” suppressing the “voices of these communities.”
“My last message is for those who, for almost one year, have been advocating for a boycott. They used all the tools in their possession to launch a campaign to boycott COP29 in Baku. I have bad news for them. We have 72,000 registered participants from 196 countries. Among them are 80 presidents, vice-presidents, and prime ministers. So, the world has gathered in Baku, and we say to the world: Welcome to Azerbaijan,” the head of state added.
“Right after Azerbaijan was elected as the host country of COP29, we became the target of a coordinated, well-orchestrated campaign of slander and blackmail,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the opening ceremony of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 on November 12.
“Western fake news media, so-called independent NGOs, and some politicians seemed to be competing in spreading disinformation and false information about our country. To accuse us of having oil is the same as accusing us of having more than 250 sunny days a year in Baku,” the head of state emphasized.
The head of state said: “Two years ago, Azerbaijan and the European Commission signed a Declaration on strategic partnership in the field of energy. But it was not our idea. It was a proposal from the European Commission. The President of the European Commission came to Baku two years ago to sign this document with us. Because they needed our gas.”
UN Secretary-General & President of the European Council Congratulate President Ilham Aliyev on COP29
The head of state said: “Two years ago, Azerbaijan and the European Commission signed a Declaration on strategic partnership in the field of energy. But it was not our idea. It was a proposal from the European Commission. The President of the European Commission came to Baku two years ago to sign this document with us. Because they needed our gas.”
President of Azerbaijan: We implemented UN Security Council resolutions, which had remained on paper for 30 years
“Despite 30 years-long occupation by Armenia of almost 20% of the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan, despite ethnic cleansing and the deportation of 1 million Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands, we managed to build a strong country with a self-sufficient economy and independent policy,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the opening ceremony of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 on November 12.
The head of state noted, “Four years ago, we celebrated the historical victory in the Second Karabakh War. A year ago, we fully restored our sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and UN Security Council resolutions, which had remained on paper for 30 years. We implemented these resolutions ourselves and restored international law, justice, and put an end to the Armenian occupation.”
European Reaction
“These unacceptable statements risk to undermine the conference’s vital climate objectives and the credibility of Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency,” the EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said Thursday.
The two countries issued furious rebuttals. French Ecological Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who was supposed to negotiate at COP29 on France’s behalf next week, canceled her attendance at the summit. They were backed by the EU, whose Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra — a Dutch politician — was quick to throw his support behind the French.
Conclusion
Here it is worth noting that EU, France, Netherlands raised questions on the vast production of fossil feul in Azerbaijan despite they signed agreements with Azerbaijan for gas when they banned Russian feul. Moreover Azerbaijan is committed to transform her energy apparatus from fossil to green. Azerbaijan has set Azerbaijan has set target to roll out 8 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar energy by 2030, the aim to produce 30% of energy from green sources until 2030.
In October 2023, Azerbaijan inaugurated its first large-scale solar plant in partnership with Masdar, an Emirati company. 570,000 solar panels are working at one place an hour’s drive from Baku. At the hills of Garadagh, a country built on oil and gas is taking its first steps towards a “green” future.
Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sources are hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass power plants. Together, these generated 1.48 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy in 2018, comprising almost 9% of the total production of 17.2 billion kWh.
Therefore, European objections can not be considered as fair. Also it is known fact that European countries themselves are the major contributors of carbon in the air from their industries.
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