Azerbaijan Accused of Hypocrisy After Calling for Cop29 Global Truce

LONDON — The host country of this year’s UN climate summit, Azerbaijan, has been accused of hypocrisy in calling for a global truce to coincide with the conference taking place, The Guardian writes.

Azerbaijan holds the presidency of the Cop29 summit, which will take place in its capital, Baku, from 11 November for two weeks. Heads of government from around the world are expected and more than 180 countries are likely to be represented.

For the duration of the conference, and a week before and afterwards, Azerbaijan is calling on all countries that are engaged in conflict to put down arms. The presidency will also hold a special “peace day” on 15 November, and a Cop29 peace and climate initiative, intended to help the most vulnerable countries, in conjunction with the UK, Germany, Italy, Uganda and others.

According to The Guardian, a leaked draft of the truce appeal shows Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a peacemaker. “Cop29 is a unique chance to bridge divides and find paths towards lasting peace. Conflicts increase greenhouse gas emissions and ravage the environment, polluting soil, water and air. The devastation of ecosystems and pollution caused by conflicts worsen climate change and undermine our efforts to safeguard the planet,” reads the draft resolution, a short text of 180 words.

But activists have pointed to Azerbaijan’s record on human rights and its recently concluded war with Armenia. More than 100,000 people were displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan launched an offensive last September.

A peace agreement was reached in late December but human rights campaigners say Azerbaijan still holds hundreds of political prisoners.