Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva addresses presentation ceremony of IDEA international environment campaign at UK House of Lords

Member of UK House of Lords Mohamed Sheikh hosted an official reception at the House of Lords on the occasion of the presentation of the international environment campaign IDEA (International Dialogue on Environmental Action) of Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, March 23.

The presentation ceremony was organized by the UK`s EcoMuslim Organization and Azerbaijani Embassy to UK.

In his opening remarks, Founder Director of EcoMuslim Organization Omar Faruk stressed main directions of Azerbaijan`s development and recent environmental initiatives in the country, and spoke of importance of IDEA`s activity for South Caucasus nations.

Speaking at the event, Lord Mohamed Sheikh noted the importance of the event and highlighted the increasing role of Azerbaijan in regional and global policy. He briefed the attendees on bringing many geo-economic, transport and energy projects to fruition in the country and talked about Azerbaijan’s development, economic and political initiatives realized in the country over the past years.

Speaking of the environment problems and initiatives supported by the House of Lords, Lord Mohamed Sheikh also underscored importance of activities as part of the IDEA Environment Campaign.

Addressing the event, IDEA initiator Leyla Aliyeva informed the participants on environmental projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and cooperation with UNDP to mobilize Azerbaijani youth for Rio+20 conference.

The Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation also touched on IDEA volunteers` activity in secondary schools. She added that kids should learn about environmental education from childhood. They should know about the protection of environment in elementary and secondary schools. The youth should understand the importance of environmental harmony, learn how nature preserves life and cognize the influence of their daily actions on environment. Teachers are able to suggest to children the knowledge, skills and values, which are important for sustainable life, at all ages. The main objective of my campaign is to highlight the role of primary education towards ensuring the right behavior of a person to live in harmony with the environment.

Mrs Leyla Aliyeva stated that South Caucasus is one of the regions with rich agro-biodiversity. This region has subtropical forests, summits in Great Caucasus covered with glacier and snow, steppes and semi deserts in lowlands.

Almost all the climate zones exist in South Caucasus. For instance, Azerbaijan enjoys 9 of 11 climate zones.

According to her, the Caucasus region is very sensitive to the climate change and this should be taken into account in planning any economic projects. Negative consequences of the climate change may impact all spheres from agriculture to tourism, in particular water sector.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union a number of environmental problems, which are likely to create environmental, health and economic threats, occurred in this region. Illegal hunting, destruction of pastures and forests and uncontrolled urbanization put the biological diversity in the region under danger. All the South Caucasus states have ratified Convention on Biological Diversity and other relevant international documents and undertaken obligations to protect the environment.

But current frozen and active conflicts in the region had negative impacts on the ecosystem. Deliberately setting fire to forests in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan creates danger for wild flora and fauna. Unique animals such as Caucasian leopard have faced a risk of danger.

A number of ecological dangers in 3 countries of South Caucasus are reflected in the areas characterized with a serious ecological decline. Sources to ecological dangers against people are shown not only in forest destructions, incorrect use of natural riches, water pollution and natural disasters, but also in industrial production, nuclear and radioactive wastes.

Construction of the new energy block at the Armenian nuclear power plant (NPP) in Metsamor is a major blow to environmental security of the region. Azerbaijan is the only South Caucasus country that ratified UNECE Water Convention. Lack of intention to cooperate for the settlement of problems in the field of transfrontier water resources has caused pollution of subsoil and surface riches, reduction of river waters and water lack.

Cooperation among young members of the society becomes a vital element for protection of environment in the light of the environmental threats the region faced. The mentioned threats prove that environmental challenges must be resolved through strengthening international environmental management.

Giving a comprehensive information about her country, Mrs Leyla Aliyeva also spoke of Azerbaijan`s history. She said: “I am proud to be born in the first Muslim country which established the first parliamentary republic in the East, granted women equal political rights with men in 1918 and accepted progressive Western values. Azerbaijan is the home to the first opera, first musical comedy, first theatre in Western style and first ballet in the Eastern world. Also, the first secondary school for women in the Muslim world was built here. My country is the land of the “firsts” and has always been known for tolerance, religious and cultural diversity, traditions. Azerbaijan is the land of intersections: Europe and Asia, East and West.”

Following the official reception Leyla Aliyeva handed over keepsakes embodying Azerbaijan to Lord Mohamed Sheikh on behalf of the Azerbaijani delegation.

The event was attended by the members of the British parliament, representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in this country, representatives of ecologic organizations, Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Bagirov, Head of the Political Analysis and Information Provision Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov, SOCAR Vice-President for Environmental Issues Rafiga Huseynzade, Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to UK Fakhraddin Gurbanov and others.