Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticized the American media
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticized the American media
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticized the American media for publications concerning Azerbaijan, saying: "The press of the world's largest oil and gas producing country, which spreads fake news, calls us an oil country. It would be useful for them to look at themselves."
Aliyev spoke at the opening of the World Summit on Climate Action Leaders (WLCAS), which is taking place within the framework of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
Stressing that Azerbaijan is located at the intersection of the Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern directions, Aliyev noted that the large and important projects initiated by the country have changed the energy and transport maps of Eurasia, contributing to the formation of multilateral cooperation formats in the region. Aliyev also noted that despite the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, the country was able to build a powerful state and won the Second Karabakh War four years ago.
As Chairman of COP29, Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan strives to establish mutual understanding between developed and developing countries, as well as between the Global North and the Global South.
Aliyev added that Azerbaijan can become a bridge for participants in climate initiatives: "Azerbaijan is an active supporter of multilateralism. We are also actively involved in intercultural dialogue."
Aliyev, noting that in recent years Azerbaijan has been particularly actively investing in renewable energy and will continue to invest in green energy, said: "In addition, we are working with our partners on the implementation of another important project in the field of energy security. This project is called the Black Sea-Caspian Energy Initiative."
Stressing that this project will allow exporting green energy to Europe, Aliyev added that the initial potential capacity of the project will be 4 gigawatts.
Recalling that the world's first industrial oil well was drilled in Baku in 1846, Aliyev noted: "If Western countries had called Azerbaijan an oil power back then, it would not have been a problem. But these days it is unfair and only indicates a lack of political awareness and culture."
Pointing out that Azerbaijan's share in global oil production is only 0.7%, Aliyev said: "However, the press of the world's largest oil and gas producing country, which spreads fake news, calls us an oil country. It would be useful for them to look at themselves."
Aliyev expressed his dissatisfaction with similar critical statements that began to be made after the decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan: "Western fake news, so-called independent non-governmental organizations and some politicians seemed to compete in spreading disinformation about our country. Accusing us of having oil is the same as blaming us for the fact that Baku has more than 250 sunny days a year. Countries should be criticized based on other criteria."
Aliyev noted that despite the fact that many European countries purchase gas from Azerbaijan, such critical statements continue to be received, and called it "political hypocrisy."
Stating that there is talk of a boycott of COP29 in some Western countries, Aliyev concluded his speech with the words: "I have bad news for them. 72 thousand people from 169 countries have registered for COP29. The conference is attended by heads of State and Government from 80 countries. The whole world gathered in Baku. We say to the whole world: 'Welcome to Azerbaijan!'"