Baku, March 23, 2025 – The Europe Today: Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly rebutted statements made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in a recent interview with the Brazilian newspaper Folha, in which he suggested that previous COP meetings have largely ignored the needs of the “Global South” and developing countries.
In a detailed commentary, the Azerbaijani Ministry stressed that the Armenian minister’s claims were “unfounded” and revealed a lack of understanding of the climate negotiations that have taken place within the framework of the COP conferences.
“It seems that the Armenian Foreign Minister is completely unaware of the climate negotiations that have occurred at COP meetings. It is well-known that significant decisions for the ‘Global South’ have been made in every COP so far,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Azerbaijani government further expressed that Mirzoyan’s remarks were “disrespectful not only to the host of COP29 but also to the entire history of COP negotiations.”
Regarding COP29, the Ministry emphasized the significance of the Baku COP, which is regarded as a turning point in global climate diplomacy. The event is noted for its high level of organization and the substantial results achieved during the negotiations.
Among the major outcomes of COP29, the Baku Climate Finance Goal was highlighted. It saw the annual target of $100 billion—previously pledged by developed countries to finance climate-related activities in developing nations—tripled to $300 billion. The total financing target, encompassing both state and non-state sources, was set at an ambitious $1.3 trillion.
COP29 also marked a milestone with the launch of the carbon markets mechanism (Paris Agreement Credit Facility), a project that had been under negotiation for nearly a decade without success at previous COPs. The successful establishment of this mechanism is seen as a major opportunity for “Global South” countries to access climate finance.
Additionally, the Loss and Damage Fund, an initiative that holds particular significance for the “Global South,” was launched at COP29.
“These successes, achieved through the dedicated efforts of the COP29 presidency, are just a fraction of the broader accomplishments of the Baku COP,” the Ministry stated.
Looking ahead, the Ministry emphasized that the primary focus for the global climate community now is the implementation of the agreements reached at COP29 and preparations for the next COP in Belem, Brazil.
“We hope that the Belem COP will also be another breakthrough in climate negotiations,” the Ministry concluded.
