Azerbaijan unveiled a new international program aimed at supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during the side event organized by the World Heritage Center on the margins of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Korea.
Organized by the World Heritage Centre, Azerbaijan announced the launch of its “International Technical Assistance Initiative of the Republic of Azerbaijan for World Heritage Pathway Capacity Building for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” at the high-level event on “World Heritage Strategy for SIDS.”
Initiated by the Chartered Culture and Education Institute of Azerbaijan (CCEI Azerbaijan), the goal of the program is to strengthen the institutional capacity and professional skills of SIDS countries, and provide expert and technical support in the areas of including rare heritage sites of small island states on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev noted that the initiative aims to further contribute to UNESCO's important work in this regard, providing support mechanisms aimed at strengthening practical capacities in SIDS countries, given the specific needs of the countries, in particular to respond to the challenges posed by climate change for the protection of World Heritage.
According to him, the program will be implemented with the participation of professional experts engaged by the CCEI Azerbaijan which possesses international experience in this field.
In his remarks, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Centre, stressed the importance of the program and expressed his gratitude for Azerbaijan's support to SIDS countries.
The event participants stated that Azerbaijan’s initiative marks an important step towards strengthening international solidarity, promoting the exchange of experience in the field of protecting world cultural and natural heritage, and contributing to capacity-building in SIDS and other vulnerable countries.
