It Is Completely Unacceptable: Hajiyev

It is regrettable that you describe the European Union as a "garden," while the rest of the world is likened to "jungles." This statement reminds one of nothing other than the colonial era’s narrative of "us and the barbarians." This was stated by Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, reacting to the criticisms of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell regarding COP29.

“Small island developing states are more affected by climate change, as are EU countries in the trans-Pacific region, yet the self-governing trans-Pacific regions cannot voice their concerns and are ignored. Given that some EU countries have been involved in notorious colonial governance and disgraceful slave trade, that does not give them the privilege to maintain a neo-colonial regime and reject the decolonization concept,” said Aliyev's assistant.

He noted that the broader international community recognizes Azerbaijan as the host country for COP29. “However, it is completely unacceptable for the EU's foreign policy service to send instructions to EU member states not to participate in COP29. Additionally, in some cases, the EU’s foreign policy service has used its diplomatic ties to prevent other EU countries from participating in COP29. All these attempts have been unsuccessful. More than 80 heads of states and governments participated in COP29, with over 70,000 registered attendees. I would simply like to remind that the COP process pertains to the UN and the world. Despite all these meaningless attacks, Azerbaijan, as the host and president of COP29, will continue to do everything possible to work constructively with the parties, ensure the inclusiveness of COP, and achieve the expected outcomes in the global agenda for combating climate change,” he mentioned.

It is worth recalling that Borrell had previously stated: “These unacceptable statements could undermine the important goals of the climate change conference and the credibility of Azerbaijan's presidency of COP29. The European Union and the member countries of the coalition are the 'largest donors of global climate financing.'”